All fingers are equal but some are more equal than others. That is what aptly describes the mood of the family of Lt. Adeyemi Sowole, the co-pilot of the Navy helicopter which crashed on Saturday in Bayelsa State as they have expressed disappointment that authorities have only focussed their attention on the dignitaries that died on the flight, while ignoring their son.
“All lives are equal. At this point, the right thing to do is for government to treat all the victims with respect and give them the same recognition.
“But it seems as if only the dignitaries on board the helicopter died. Adeyemi is also important.
“Adeyemi and a senior colleague lost their lives also. They are equally precious to their families.
“It was their responsibility to transport the dignitaries even though their own lives were on the line.”
The co-pilot’s elder brother, Taiwo, said the government had treated other victims less important than the two dignitaries – Gen. Andrew Azazi and Governor Patrick Yakowa – who also died in the crash.
At the Sowole family home on 28, Akintoye Street, Iyana Ipaja, the ambience was sombre, as relations and friends sat around Adeyemi’s father, Solomon, in the family’s sitting room.
Another family member, an aunt of the deceased, who broke down in tears while expressing sadness that while the news about the crash was circulating, authorities only focused on Yakowa and Azazi.
“It’s like the people in government see our son and his colleague as unimportant. Is it only Azazi and Yakowa that died in that crash? Why can’t they sympathise with us as well? The incident happened and all they were talking about were the two government officials on board,” the aunt stated.
Adeyemi was the fifth child of his parents’ seven children.
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