By Okosun Dennis
It is a sad reality. Unfortunate.
Bad as it is, it’s not too late to restart the engine. Last Wednesday morning was a defining moment in the life of a nation, Nigeria, when a sweeping press statement swept the unthinkable and left a gamut of suggestions, permutations, and uncertain conclusions.
The indefatigable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Barr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), made a bold statement. When it found expression in the media space, the dust settled and changed the complexity of the smouldering conversation of the past few days.
Was I amazed? Were people shocked? Yes and no. The indiscretion, breaches, and poor behavioural patterns of some passengers of VALUEJET and Ibom Air, and some security personnel of FAN and NCAA, and the flurries of amnesty, made one creak.
Nigeria is a big country in the whole world. The achievements of millions of Nigerians place her on a very high pedestal on the international map. We are no neophyte that should be branded as lacking the wisdom to pilot its domestic affairs. Therefore, demarketing ourselves before the global audience shouldn’t come as a priced ornament.
Our aviation industry has been impeccable. Exceptionally unique, with pilots in both domestic and international fleets doing amazing daily flights without pitfalls. For several years, aviation disasters have been kept far from us. However, the behaviour of some individuals shouldn’t plunge us into an irredeemable disaster.
Security Breaches at the Airport
An airport is very strategic to national security; hence, it must be treasured and respected no matter whose ox is gored.
The events of 5th August, orchestrated by a music maestro, Wusiu Ayinde Marshal, aka KWAM 1 De Ultimate, sent some cold chills into the spines. An act that lucidly defines impunity. A verisimilitude of confronting a roaring lion.
What bravery or effrontery? Impunity that would have cascaded into a disaster. An adult misdemeanor can be crazy! It was unexpected from his personality. But then, it happened like a flash of torchlight in the West.
He gambled and kissed death, but his ancestors were on alert. As wrestlers or boxers would do, he dodged well and missed the plane’s wing hitting his head. Would that have been branded a suicide or murder to both the victim and the pilot?
What Kwam 1 did was an unfortunate rendition of what is possible in our airports, especially by those who wield political powers or have penetrative contacts. His attitude, to say the least, exposes some weaknesses at our airports. A pointer to our enemies that anything can be possible in our airport—our capabilities and non-capabilities. The security lost the game.
By extension, it shows the vulnerability, the crappy security measures—where the security men couldn’t restrain one man from disrupting the flight schedule. He was treated with kid gloves—like a stainless ornament.
Were they afraid? Were they intimidated by his societal status? Was it a case of greased palms that weakened taking actions? Should all have had an influence on them that hampered doing their jobs that would safeguard the security of lives and property?
They practically looked helpless. Are there limitations to the tools the airport security can bear to demobilize a rampaging, unruly, and aggressive passenger? No handcuffs, no pepper spray, no shocker?
What do their security drills and training entail? A sad reality! But it has happened!
In the face of truth, Nigerians are very blunt and bold. However, the reality is that what started as a newfound unruly behaviour at the airport without sanction started two months ago when the former Governor of Edo State and a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, disrupted boarding after missing his Air Peace flight to Abuja.
It went like a whistling breeze in the savannah. No repercussion, and everybody slept over it. He was a “big man” that was involved. The untouchable. The class of “do you know who I am?”
Nobody considered the implication in several ways. It was a breach—a security breach to that extent. The fire was ignited and grew gradually until it extended to other parts of the house. Fortunately, it might have continued if not for a poor little girl that wanted to wear the elephant’s shoes and got burnt. Welcome to the new chapter!
From what has been dubbed the Oshiomhole-Air Peace brouhaha to Kwam 1’s indiscretion to Emmanson’s outbursts, it has become monstrous. Their unruly behaviours were out of this world! A season of anomie has begun.
From the events of 5th and 10th August, it’s possible our airports seem to lack adequate or well-trained security that is deficient of the right tools to demobilize an individual. The inferences and deductions are exposures of our security weaknesses, which expose our airport more to invisible enemies. It is difficult to fathom why a police command is at the airport. What are their functions in the event of such, and why were they not brought in?
Last Wednesday, a US Breeze Airways flight from Norfolk, Virginia, to Los Angeles International Airport was diverted and forced to land in Grand Junction, Colorado, after a drunk passenger threatened and waved a skateboard at airline staff.
The unruly passenger, after displaying an uncontrollable disposition and failing to be restrained, was arrested at the Grand Junction Regional Airport. Immediately, the FBI launched an investigation. This is how not to breach airport/flight security, because there are measures and regulatory instruments to deal with such an offender.
The clear indiscretion, played out by Miss Comfort Emmanson Bob and the air hostess, Juliana, didn’t sit well or resonate properly with every thinking person. Emmanson’s action wasn’t comfortable. If an air passenger cannot obey rules of safety, she has no business flying, and I hope her 48 hours in Kirikiri will serve as a soothing balm to others.
Again, the show of shame orchestrated by those that dragged her off the aircraft speaks volumes. She could have been handcuffed and led out of the plane. This is where the airport commandant would have given an indelible account of his command—professionally handling her arrest properly—not the brigandage that revealed the essential part of the girl.
I guess the command has their intelligence unit. Unfortunately, intelligence is useless where the operative is not intelligent. That is what played out. No coordination, no synchronisation. The drill was shambolic. Over five strongmen struggled to grab a little girl!
What would have happened if, probably, she was a terrorist that laced her body with explosives? What would have happened if Wasiu Ayinde Kwam 1 was armed and stood in front of the plane? What story would have been told and painted?
Awarding Punishment
When a senator of the Federal Republic prevented people from boarding, so many people kept quiet. Some clapped and lampooned Air Peace with all manner of vituperations—some branded Air Peace as a perpetual failure. When it got to the turn of a music artist, those that would have spoken glued their lips. Their vocal cords went on recess—they deliberately went silent.
Now, a content creator—am I right? When she did it, she flew herself and landed at Kirikiri. What happened to others? Wasn’t that a disproportionately disproportionate justice? Why was the course of justice swift for the young girl and not for the older men?
First, we are all Nigerians. The international community is watching. Was that the best we could do in the circumstance? Was she fairly treated? Yes, an offense was committed, but when juxtaposed with others, was she calmly handled as a golden egg?
Minister’s Intervention
Smiles bellowed for Emmanson when the erudite Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Barr. Festus Keyamo released a statement that silenced the raging quake.
Was the supremacy of the law brought to bear? Was Kwam 1 investigated to know whether Valuejet’s allegation that he spilled alcohol on the pilot is true or false? In a sane clime, the shirt of the pilot that the supposed water spilled would have gone through forensic analysis. The ground where it spilled would have to be extracted for analysis too to determine whether it was alcohol or water.
Why was it not analyzed forensically, at least, to determine whether the allegation was true or false? I think Nigeria has missed a golden opportunity to disabuse insinuations about us, especially from the perspective of the international community.
Our security protocols are selective. The man that stands in front of an aircraft is the greatest offender. For somebody to have done that was not only ignorant but also gambled with his life. Therefore, the law ought to have been allowed to deal with the situation for lessons to be learned.
Wasiu Ayinde K1 was not arrested, investigated, or tried, but judgment was imposed and later slashed. Such decisions rendered the police dumbfounded. Sometimes, I pity the force that was already activating orders to investigate him. Suddenly, their enthusiasm was punctured. To complement such misbehaviour of K1, he will be considered and rewarded with an “Ambassador for Proper Airport Security Protocol.”
This is the Federal Government’s judgment as read by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Barr Festus Keyamo (SAN): “In the case of KWAM 1, the NCAA is to reduce his flight ban to a one-month period. FAAN will also work with the music star with a view to engaging him as an ambassador for proper airport security protocol going forward.”
“Having publicly demonstrated penitence, the NCAA is also to withdraw its criminal complaints against KWAM 1 earlier lodged with the police.
“In the case of Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and the co-pilot, First Officer Ivan Oloba of VALUEJET, the NCAA is to restore their licenses after the same period of one-month ban after undergoing some mandatory professional reappraisal. The details will be announced by the NCAA.”
In all of these, it is assumed that it is only the pilots that are facing punishment, and their offense is the least of all violations, to say the least.
Encouraging Disobedience
This bout of talks that drew national conversations started from Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. He did it; every government agency looked the other way. Wasiu Ayinde KWAM 1 did his own; nobody arrested and prosecuted him. He was patted on his back and considered for the Airport Security Ambassadorship. When Emmanson’s turn came, she was rushed. Arrested and prosecuted, but God intervened to serve as a leeway for others to have their freedom.
A terrorist will be arrested by the military and granted amnesty after purportedly undergoing a deradicalization process. For real! Has such pardon led to a reduction in violent extremism? Government officials loot the treasury, engage in plea bargains, walk home free, and are reappointed into public offices. Some become monstrous and vindictive thereafter. The system encourages it.
Has it reduced looting of public funds? Rather, the society is growing more undisciplined people—both elites and youths. Instead of enunciating stringent measures and harsher laws to deal with offenders, the guard is lowered, and indiscipline is allowed to permeate.
Just imagine! A state governor’s aide has granted Emmanson a job offers for an N500,000 monthly stipend with a promise of “having a nice time when she honours the invitation.” For real! To a girl that confessed she doesn’t know how to read or spell “general”? What will be her job description? Isn’t such an offer encouraging other to do weird things in the future?
With the Gen Z era fast dominating, the optics are bad. Where crimes are committed and there is no punishment, we are left with no choice but to look for the beautiful ones yet unborn.
The government, political class, and influential people should allow those that commit crimes to be held accountable. Let’s excuse the “paddy-paddy arrangement” in deciding who gets punished or not. No option for punishment for a crime. The world is watching; data of these offenses are stored, and inferences will be drawn.
No benefit for crime, but punishment for doing wrong and becoming a changed person.
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