Minister Keyamo Issues Ultimatum to Peter Obi Over Airport Incident
Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has demanded that Peter Obi, a key opposition figure, publicly apologize to airport officials and remit a fine of N25,000 for alleged violations related to parking at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. Keyamo warned that failure to comply within one week would prompt further action from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Investigation Prompted by Allegations of Intimidation
This directive follows an internal investigation initiated by Keyamo after Obi claimed that his vehicle’s tires were excessively tightened at the airport. Obi characterized this incident as part of a larger campaign of intimidation orchestrated by the federal government against him.
Obi Alleges Targeted Harassment
During a public event, Obi recounted the experience, asserting that his car was singled out while other vehicles in the vicinity were not subjected to similar scrutiny. He argued that this selective treatment reflected what he perceived as heightened harassment and questioned the rationale behind the airport officials’ actions.
Surveillance Footage Contradicts Obi’s Claims
In a statement shared on his social media account, Keyamo asserted that a review of the airport’s surveillance footage revealed discrepancies in Obi’s account. He emphasized that airport officials were merely upholding established parking and security protocols.
Minister’s Response and Summary of Events
Keyamo expressed his responsibility as Minister of Aviation to investigate the claims. He noted that the entire airport is monitored in real-time by surveillance cameras, suggesting that Obi may have overlooked this fact in his assertions of persecution. The surveillance showed Obi arriving at the domestic terminal around 8:28 PM on July 4, with a police driver dropping him off and subsequently leaving the vehicle unattended, which contravenes airport regulations.
Official Justification for Enforcement Actions
The minister elaborated that the police driver had briefly returned to the vehicle to retrieve personal items, leaving it unmonitored before airport security intervened. Keyamo denied that the actions were specifically targeted at Obi, asserting that airport staff were not aware that the vehicle belonged to the former presidential candidate.
Call for Apology and Payment of Fine
Keyamo accused Obi of attempting to manipulate public sympathy over a standard enforcement issue and noted that the airport authorities only became publicly aware of the incident following Obi’s comments. He firmly demanded that Obi apologize to the airport staff for their adherence to protocols and stressed that he must return to pay the prescribed parking fine of N25,000. Keyamo concluded that if these demands were not met within the stipulated timeframe, FAAN would be instructed to take appropriate action.
