A federal lawmaker, Clement Jimbo, representing Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency in Akwa Ibom State, has sparked outrage after using the tragic 2006 ADC plane crash to mock the opposition coalition’s political platform.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is the chosen platform of opposition leaders who have united to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s bid for reelection in 2027. In an online post, Jimbo warned people not to join the coalition, comparing it to the ADC Airline Flight 053 that crashed shortly after takeoff from Abuja Airport in 2006.
The Boeing 737-200 crash killed 96 out of 105 passengers onboard, and the tragedy remains a painful memory for many Nigerians. Jimbo wrote on his Facebook page, “How many of you remembered the ADC flight 53 that crashed in 2006? It’s back again to crash again. Please don’t board!”
His post, which has attracted over 230 comments, drew sharp criticism from Nigerians, especially from those in Akwa Ibom State. Many accused him of being insensitive and mocking the victims of the crash.
Eno Ekanem commented, “I remember my uncle was on that plane. Till date, we cannot get over the loss. If this is a joke, please stop it.” Another user, Ofonime Honesty, asked, “Are you mocking the dead?” while Abasiama Udousoro called the post “insensitive.”
The backlash highlights the strong emotions surrounding the tragedy and the sensitivity expected when discussing such painful events in political debates.
Clement Jimbo has yet to respond to the criticism.
