Former President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Mr Peter Esele, has voiced disappointment over reports that Fuji maestro, Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, allegedly refused to adhere to airport regulations.
Reacting to the incident, Esele said K1’s conduct was unbecoming of a respected musician and public figure.
According to him, the consequences of disregarding the law go beyond mere insults.
“It is a metaphor for a nation where power exempts one from consequence,” he said.
NAN reports that a viral video captured the Fuji musician standing in front of an aircraft in an apparent attempt to prevent the plane from taxiing.
ValueJet Airlines stated that K1 was denied boarding on flight VK 201 (Abuja-Lagos) after he insisted on carrying a flask containing a liquid substance exceeding the permitted 100ml.
Despite repeated requests, the musician allegedly refused to comply with security regulations.
The flight captain, Oluranti Ogoyi, further alleged that the musician opened the bottle and splashed its contents on her and others nearby.
Esele said, ”Aviation laws are clear; liquids over 100ml are prohibited unless medically necessary and declared.
“Yet enforcement bends to influence. We live in a country where Do you know who I am? is not a question, but a threat.
“From government officials using sirens to bully their way through traffic, to reckless drivers ignoring zebra crossings, the culture of impunity is top-down.
“These daily infractions and the silence of those tasked with enforcement erode our values and unravel the fabric that binds us.
“Is this the legacy we want to leave? Should apologies replace justice? What happens when laws only apply to the powerless?
“We must demand better. We must rebuild civic education, empower institutions to act without fear or favour, and insist that the law protect everyone equally,” he said.
Esele stated that Nigerians have the capacity to build a society where zebra crossings are observed, flights are conducted safely, and fame does not exempt anyone from accountability.
“It starts with refusing to excuse the inexcusable,” he added.
He added that in a functioning society, the conduct allegedly displayed by K1 de Ultimate would trigger swift legal consequences.
“In ours, it prompted a tepid apology, likely because cameras were rolling. Had there been no footage, he would have probably locked up the pilot and airline owner,” he further said.
NAN reports that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has stated that the travel ban placed on KWAM 1 will remain in place indefinitely until ongoing investigations into the flight incident are completed.
On August 7, Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, directed the NCAA to place the musician on a no-fly list for six months, pending the conclusion of a full investigation.
