‘Yes, I was the one’, Wike owns up to viral mid-air panicky prayer video, counters spokesperson’s denial

A viral video trended where in the minister was heard engaging in panicking prayer during the crisis period.

In the video, Wike’s voice was heard praying frantically ‘Satan, you are a liar! Father, Father! Oh, Jehovah. Blood of Jesus! Father, it is time to prove yourself! Jesus, you are in charge! Ohhhh Jehovah…”

Wike’s admission punctured the earlier position of Lere Olayinka, his media aide, who had dismissed the video, claiming since Wike’s face did not show in the video, it was a fake.

“Private Jet with only you and your friends or family members on board. Who will record such a video and share it on Social Media? You, your friend or family member?, he queried on his X page.

He added: “And the plane was having issues on air, only your voice was heard, others were calm. Dem chop winch abi? Make una dey use una sense small small nah.”

However,  while giving a thanksgiving testimony in a church in Port Harcourt, Wike said he was aboard a Bombardier Global Express 5000/6000 series jet when the aircraft suffered engine failure mid-flight.

According to him, he was flying to Lagos with his daughter and two of his friends after his wife arrived in Port Harcourt from Lagos and 15 minutes into the flight, the aircraft developed fault

“About fifteen minutes into the flight, we heard a loud ’gboom.’ The cabin crew started running. I asked what the problem was, and one of them said, ‘Sir, there’s a problem.’ I asked again, ‘What’s the problem?’ She ran off, then came back and said, ‘One engine is gone.’ The pilot later announced that it would be safer to turn back since we were headed to Lagos, and asked if we could return to Port Harcourt,” he recalled.

He added: “We looked at each other. By the grace of God, we landed safely. I hadn’t told my parents or many others that I was travelling.”