- How Buhari reacted
By Ken Afor
A new book, ‘Working with Buhari: Reflections of a Special Adviser, Media and Publicity (2015-2023),’ written by Mr. Femi Adesina, a former aide to Muhammadu Buhari, reveals how the former President’s plane nearly crashed while he was on board with his aides.
According to the book, the incident occurred in November 2015, a few months after the former president was sworn in.
Furthermore, Mr. Adesina revealed that during Buhari’s eight-year tenure, he traveled to 94 countries.
According to Adesina, Buhari was reportedly en route to the Island of Malta to participate in a gathering of the Commonwealth Heads of Government when the aircraft encountered severe turbulence that endured for an extended period.
Upon landing in Malta, the report indicated that the turbulence during the flight was so intense that a visibly shaken President Buhari questioned the pilot about the landing.
Recognizing the distress caused, the pilot promptly apologized to both the President and the other concerned passengers.
The report said: “A presidential jet is not immune from bad weather and the accompanying turbulence (many hours of that we experienced). Neither is it spared from what aviators call wind shear (a sudden change in the direction of the wind). We had a frightful experience).
“In November 2015, we had travelled to Malta to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, and it was an uneventful flight till the flight crew announced that we should get ready for landing.
“Few seconds from touching the tarmac, the Boeing 737 business jet got buffeted from all sides and began to sway dangerously. On touching down, it pirouetted and gyrated like a drunken sailor; and was almost turning over.
“What kind of landing is this?”, Buhari is reported to have queried the frightened pilot, who immediately apologized to the then president.
“We have just experienced what is called wind shear, a sudden change in the direction of wind. Apologies Mr. President, and distinguished passengers,” the scared pilot replied Buhari on touching down safely.
Mr. Adesina further revealed that in 2016 alone, the former President made 19 trips, marking the highest number of visits. In 2022, there were 18 trips, 16 in 2015, and 12 in 2018.
