Barr Festus Keyamo, (SAN) Minister of Aviation & Aerospace Development
By Ambassador Ikechi Uko
IBOM AIR AND VALUEJET: AVIATION GBAS!! GBOS!!! SEASON FILM
How “No gree for anybody” met “I go Change am for you”. Nigerians have been having fun over the Aviation incidents in the past months.
For my non-Nigerian friends, let me unpack the whole jargon for you.
“No gree for Anybody” means do not compromise. Do not give in and do not run from anything. It was the Gen Z motto for 2024. A proponent of No gree for Anybody is likely to be the child of ‘i go change am for you’ proponent. The children learnt from their parents.
“I go change am for you” is a Lagos slang that you hear on the Street. Mostly from women. Once they are involved in an argument, they will give you an advanced warning of the Demon lurking within. They will tell you that I will soon unleash the demon within. If you fail to take notice, she will unleash the: Kraken” within, and all hell breaks loose.
These women are often in their late 30s, 40s or 50s. Their children are now on the street. They can buy flight tickets and even fly planes. So, a Gen Z pilot versus KWAM1 almost ended up with an attempt by the pilot to crush the musician after he allegedly poured the contents of his Flask on the pilot.
These incidents involved the three (3) most successful airlines in Nigeria. Ibomair and Valuejet are the two (2) best airlines by service standards and on-time performance. Air Peace is the biggest Airline.
The players: KWAM 0. It is the name given to the first alleged offender. He is a two (2) term Governor and currently a senator at the National Assembly.
Wasiu Ayinde, aka KWAM1, in brown attire, sandwiched in between avsec personnel at the door of the aircraft, ready for taxi
t was alleged that he locked up the airport terminal. Prevented Air Peace staff from boarding more passengers because he was told he was late for his flight.
KWAM1 is the owner of the title, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal 1, a popular Fuji musician, the favourite minstrel to the President of Nigeria. He blocked a Valuejet flight from taking off because he was denied boarding for trying to enter with a liquid-filled Flask.
The pilot almost ran him over, and he had to duck under the wing. The Minister of Aviation banned him for six (6) months, while the two (2) pilots had their licenses suspended.
KWAM2 incident is the most popular of them all. A young lady refused to switch off her phone on board Ibom Air. After the plane landed in Lagos, either it was changed for the female passenger, or the female passenger, a bona fide Gen Z, no gree for any air hostess, things ostensibly escalated. Ramp agent assistance was sought. They responded and tried to escort her off the plane, but the gentleman’s approach did not bring any results.
It’s of note as seen in the video that has gone viral that, the cabin crew member concerned, an older female, prevented her from leaving the cabin until the agents arrived.
In the process of de-boarding the purportedly recalcitrant female passenger, her blouse was torn, and her breast was shown in another viral video. Subsequently, she was arrested and jailed within three (3) hours. She was also banned from all airlines for life.
Nigerians protested. The two (2) VIPs, males, had done worse and went scot free, but the female Gen Z victim was jailed and banned. It became an age war. Within 24 hours, the Inspector General of Police, IGP, the NCAA asked the IG of Police to arrest KWAM1 too, but you know, nobody will arrest him.
L-R: Ibom Air cabin crew member, Juliana Edwards and a passenger, Comfort Emmanson, at the door of the aircraft
So the Minister of Aviation pardoned everyone. KWAM1, KWAM2 and the pilots. He asked them to sin no more. The move eased the tension but left four (4) victims. The First victim is the rule of Law- aviation laws and regulations. The second victim is the female Pilot whose mental state has been questioned by many.
The third (3rd) victim is the female cabin crew member who has also been positioned as the Gaslighter, and instigator of the whole fracas when she was just doing her work. The fourth (4th) victim is Aviation, and the brand erosion the Airlines suffered.
Victims of The Administrative Approach To The Impasses
1st. The rule of Law- Aviation laws and regulations.
2nd. The female Pilot whose mental state has been questioned by many.
3rd. The female cabin crew member who has been positioned as the Gaslighter and instigator of the whole fracas, when she was just doing her work.
4th. The entire Aviation industry and the brand erosion the Airlines suffered.
The attached Hilarious video is a parody of the Ibom Air encounter. The major takeaway from the brouhaha is the expected improvement in passengers’ compliance to all regulations guiding facilitation, boarding, inflight conduct, disembarkation, baggage claim, car park, and the final exodus of passenger from the airport.
Savour the parody through the link below;
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18R98Q5qN4
Ambassador Ikechi Uko
Ikechi Uko is a Nigerian travel business consultant, tourism developer, entrepreneur, media consultant, journalist, and author. He is the organizer of Akwaaba African Travel Market.
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