Falae: How I Escaped Plane Crash in 1969

 

James Sowole                                  

As the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae gradually regains strength to absorb the shock of the death of his son, Deji in the ill-fated Associated Airlines plane crash in Lagos on October 3, it has emerged that the septuagenarian himself narrowly escaped a plane crash in 1969. Ironically, Deji was conceived few months after Falae’s narrow escape.

The former minister of finance who recently recounted some happenings about himself and his late son while receiving visitors in his residence on Oba-Ile Road, Akure said Deji would not have been born at all considering what happened to him three months before he was conceived.

Gbenga Olawepo, the Chairman of Oil World Nigeria Ltd and Bresson Power had during a condolence visit reminded Falae about his narrow escape in the first plane crash in Nigeria in 1969. Immediately Olawepo mentioned the incident, all the mourners diverted attention to him and Falae rose and sat right on the chair beside his wife and commented briefly about the incident. The septuagenarian gave thanks to God that Deji was born and spoke about his narrow escape.

“The story, you (Olawepo) just reminded me of happened in November 1969. I shared the story with him about three months ago at the airport. My name was already in the manifest, but I missed the flight which later crashed.”

Falae said the accident happened in November 1969. “It was three months before Deji was conceived.  If I had boarded that plane as scheduled, I may have died in the crash. The late Deji we are talking about and who everybody was paying glowing tributes to would not have been born at all or if born, he would not be Falae or son of Olu Falae.

“There would not have been any family of Deji Falae or children of Deji Falae that are my grand children, who are my consolation today for his death. I have submitted to the will of God. Every purpose in life is clear to God”, he said.

To every visitor, Falae’s message had been the same. He has been telling them that the entire family has taken solace in the fact that
Deji lived a purposeful life and distinguished himself in all aspects. He said, "the Holy spirit has ministered to us and we have been consoled by what different people said about him after the incident.”

Falae said Deji’s appointment as a commissioner was seen by his son as a service to humanity noting that what he was earning in his former place of work was more than what he earned as a commissioner

"We are happy that all the family values we instill in him, he exhibited. The money he was making during his practice was more than what he was being paid as a commissioner but he took the appointment to serve the people and the community.
"He was humble, honest, transparent and exhibited integrity. He did not build a house of his own but he helped most of his supporters to build their own houses.

“The governor said it here that he appointed Deji as a commissioner not because I lobbied for him but because he saw in him attributes and qualities that he was looking for in a young man. I am sure it was his performance during the first term that earned him his re-appointment when the governor began his second term.”

Speaking to THISDAY after the visit, Olawepo said on the day Falae was to travel from London to Nigeria, he heard a voice that he should not travel that day that he should stay in London.

“While Chief Falae was in London, the plane left for Nigeria but crashed along the way. When the manifest was released, the name of Chief Falae was on the manifest and was declared as one of those that died in the crash.”
Olawepo said as the manifest was released, people started calling Chief Falae’s wife, Rachael, to condole her on the death of her husband. He said Falae’s wife surprised everybody when she told those that were calling that her husband was not dead because he was not in the ill-fated aircraft.

The Oilworld Chairman said the lesson of the story was that even when one is grieving, there is cause for one to thank God. If Chief Falae had boarded the plane as scheduled, he might have died in the crash and Deji might not come to this life at all.