The Minister of State I for Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri on Thursday appealed to the National Assembly to step up action to rid the country of impunity.
She made the appeal in Abuja when members of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Foreign Affairs paid her a condolence visit at her residence.
According to Onwuliri , it is necessary to curb the impunity, especially in the aviation industry, if? the death of her husband, Prof. Celestine Onwuliri and 152 other passengers who died in Sunday’s Dana plane crash should not be in vain.
“The death of my husband and the others should not be in vain. If we can allow Nigerians to be wasted like this, then we are missing the point.
“ I believe that they have gone but we don’t want more people to go their way.”
Onwuliri? said that her late husband was passionate about Nigeria and discharged his duties with the commitment of a patriot, adding that such a person did not deserve to die owing to negligence of? the operators of the aviation industry.
“The aspect of his death that pains us most is that? someone like him, who did his work with utmost dedication, had to die due to the carelessness and greed of others.’’
“I believe that they have gone but we don’t want more people to go, so we must save the remaining Nigerians because there is too much impunity in this country.
The minister noted that professionals have been allowed to get away with misconduct and urged the National Assembly to join forces with the President to make Nigeria better than it is.
Onwuliri? expressed regret that an effective rescue system was lacking as many people would have been saved if help had come in time.
“I believe that if the rescue team had acted promptly, my husband and several others could have been saved. ’’
“He was found on Monday, his body was intact with no scratch and no burns. They told me he was still fresh, he had his Rosary in his hand.''
Onwuliri? said that the family was encouraged by the fact that he lived a worthy live that impacted on the lives of others even as much as they were pained by Celestine's death.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Sen. Ifeanyi Nwagu (PDP-Imo), said the lawmakers were at the minister's residence to console and encourage her and the entire family.
Nwagu extolled the virtues of the late Prof. Celestine Onwuliri, saying he would be greatly missed as he lived an exemplary life that was worthy of emulation.
They prayed that God would give the widow the grace to bear the loss.
The legislators signed the condolence register after presenting a letter of condolence to the minister.
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