The Presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr Peter Obi has described the claims made by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, over the recent airport controversy as misleading.
accusing the minister of presenting a misleading account of the incident and targeting him for political reasons.
Obi in a reaction via a statement by his media office issued on Saturday by Zekeri Idris accused Keyamo of presenting a misleading account of the airport incident involving Peter Obi, alleging a pattern of political targeting.
The statement pointed out that the incident referenced by Keyamo was entirely different from the one Obi had narrated during a recent interview.
According to the statement, the existence of multiple incidents involving vehicles linked to Obi raised concerns about selective treatment.
The release also described as false claims that Obi had a police officer serving as his driver or enjoyed the level of security protection expected of a leading opposition figure.
“The incident you posted is entirely different from the one Mr Peter Obi narrated in his interview. In that interview, he clearly stated: ‘I was there…’ In the incident contained in your tweet, he was not present.
“If we now have at least two separate incidents in which vehicles associated with Mr. Obi were clamped under questionable circumstances, does this not suggest a pattern of targeting an individual simply because of who he is?
“Mr. Peter Obi does not have any police or civil defence personnel attached to him in Abuja, despite being entitled to VVIP protection by virtue of his status as a leading opposition figure in Nigeria. He certainly does not have a police officer serving as his driver,” he said.
On the duration of the airport incident, the stated revealed: “The entire sequence of events you referenced, from arrival to the eventual clamping of the vehicle, lasted approximately five minutes. At most airports around the world, including major international airports, a ten-minute drop-off window is generally considered acceptable. Where, then, did the claim of 30 minutes originate?”
Probing further, the statement questioned why other vehicles allegedly parked in the same area were not sanctioned.
“Is it not a fact that several other vehicles were in the vicinity of Mr. Obi’s vehicle without attracting similar attention from airport officials? Indeed, some of those vehicles had been parked there long before Mr. Obi’s vehicle arrived, yet none was clamped.
“Can the publication of CCTV footage detailing Mr. Peter Obi’s movements on your personal social media platform be considered a serious breach of his personal security? Your footage established no wrongdoing. Instead, you further exposed the movements of a leading opposition figure whose security concerns are already significant,” the statement pointed out.
Pointing at previous airport incidents involving former Edo State governor Adams Oshiomhole and Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, the statement questioned why similar official action was not taken.
He also criticised Keyamo’s warning that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria could take action against Obi.
“You further threatened to direct FAAN to take unspecified action against Mr. Obi. Are you the accuser, the investigator, the judge, and the executioner in the same matter? As Minister of Aviation, are you now positioning yourself as the law itself? Mr Keyamo, are you the Law?
“This issue goes far beyond a clamped vehicle. It concerns equal treatment under the law, the security of opposition figures, the neutrality of state institutions, and the standards expected in a constitutional democracy. Nigerians deserve answers to these questions.” the statement concluded.
Recall that the Keyamo had issued the NDC presidential candidate an ultimatum stating that he should publicly apologise to airport officials and pay a N25,000 fine over a wrongful parking incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport or face consequences.
