Plane Crash: Did Pius Adesanmi See His Death? Read His Last Words

By Abimbola Johnson On Mar 11, 2019

149 passengers and eight crew members, on Sunday, died when Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET302 crashed.

The crash happened exactly six minutes after it took off from Addis Ababa en route Nairobi, Kenya.

“None of the people on board the Boeing 737 that crashed en route from Addis Ababa to Nairobi survived,” the airline had said in a statement.

The two Nigerians who died in the crash were Pius Adesanmi, Canadian scholar, TED speaker and columnist, and Amb. Abiodun Bashua.

Adesanmi, who was a columnist on Premium Times and Sahara Reports, was also a professor at the Institute of African Studies at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada.

In a post on his Facebook Page on the 9th of March, the late writer quoted a bible scripture that talked about God’s protection.

Adesanmi died barely a day after the post.

See some reactions that have trailed his death below:

I mourn the passing of Ambassador Abiodun Bashua and Professor Pius Adesanmi in the Ethiopian Airlines plane crash which occurred yesterday. Distinguished Nigerians who did the nation proud in their professional endeavors.
— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) March 11, 2019

President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled the death of two Nigerians, Ambassador Abiodun Bashua and Professor Pius Adesanmi in the Ethiopian Airlines plane which crashed with 149 passengers and crew on aboard on Sunday.
— Garba Shehu (@GarShehu) March 10, 2019

Professor Pius Adesanmi will be remembered for how he brought scholarship to progressive advocacy. His numerous followers on the social media will miss his insightful contribution towards a better Nigeria. I pray his soul will forever Rest In Peace.
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) March 10, 2019

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My heart is so haevy after hearing the lost of this great man RIP #PiusAdesanmi may your soul rest in peace.
— Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (@raphaelxy) March 11, 2019

Prof. Pius Adesanmi made the IAS at Carleton home, for me and many African students in Ottawa. We went to his office without setting up appointments. And he took all of us seriously. He wanted to know our dreams and ambitions. He told us we were capable of great things.
— Halima Sogbesan (@jumokesogbesan) March 10, 2019

The mourning after the day before. And what a terrible day it was. What a tragic Sunday. The tormented sleep that followed. And the tortured dreams. It will take a long time to get over this. Shine with the brightest stars, #PiusAdesanmi. We'll love and celebrate you forever. ❣ https://t.co/ABu5v5KOT1
— Molara Wood (@molarawood) March 11, 2019

#PiusAdesanmi, a brilliant scholar and an open minded person. Your memory will always remind me to be a better person and to seek nothing short of good governance in #Nigeria. pic.twitter.com/9AWriA52sq
— Ahmad Salkida (@A_Salkida) March 10, 2019

When we were in our early 20s, the youngest within the Ibadan/ Lagos literary community, we promised each other that we would work hard to become important writers who travelled the world. My siamese twin @pius_adesanmi was an overachiever. pic.twitter.com/YzQsRgZK5V
— Lọlá Shónẹ́yìn (@lolashoneyin) March 10, 2019

Indeed Professor Pius Adesanmi was not one of those citizens whose host country could hold at arm’s length with a hyphenated nationality or an exculpatory reference to his birth country.

Payo was one of our best…
— Chuma Nwokolo (@chumanwokolo) March 11, 2019

Even if we make that trip to Ottawa someday, there would be no Pius Adesanmi to see. Everything changes too quickly when you are getting older. I always dreaded the days I’d grow to know those who died. As a child, I never knew whoever died, I just saw adults mourn, like I now do
— JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) March 10, 2019

Thinking of my late colleague Pius Adesanmi tonight. There are many who knew him better, and I wish I had. When we met, his knowledge, thoughtfulness, kindness, devotion to students impressed me. A big loss for @IAS_Carleton and the university. https://t.co/fDcwbqEkT7
— Achim Hurrelmann (@achimhurrelmann) March 11, 2019

RIP @pius_adesanmi A man of his word!
— BAMIDELE (@jamiubamidele1) March 11, 2019

RIP #PiusAdesanmi millions of Nigerians will miss you, your students will miss you and your family your dear family will miss you. Your academic ingenuity is second to none. We will always pray for your Soul.
— #PiusAdesanmi #Pray4PiusAdesanmi #RIPPiusAdesanmi (@MrMartin_4tech) March 11, 2019

Dear Prof Pius Adesanmi,

I haven't cried in years and I thought I will never. I thought reading your collections will lift my spirit, but instead I am crying as I type this.

You will forever remain in our hearts.

Rest well ?? pic.twitter.com/8awFqRIivL
— Omo Ogun (@OgunDecides) March 11, 2019

@pius_adesanmi has made me so sad bathong. We met him over an email last year and all he said "Wherever my twin @lolashoneyin says i should go, i would go" and then the car crash, and now this.He had an unmatched love for Africa and admired Botswana.
— Kenanao Phele (@kfphele) March 11, 2019

" O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

Dear Professor Pius Adesanmi, though we didn't get to meet even after many try, but I read almost all your… https://t.co/aY8xMp9ctI
— Bayode Treasures-Oluwunmi (@iread_bayode) March 11, 2019

Abiodun Bashua ethiopian airlines PIUS ADESANMI