The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has given Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi one week to publicly apologise to airport workers and pay a N25,000 fine over the clamping of his vehicle at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Keyamo said he ordered an internal investigation after Obi alleged that his vehicle’s tyres were unjustly clamped as part of a “persecution agenda” by the Federal Government.
According to the minister, CCTV footage from the airport showed that Obi’s vehicle was left unattended in a prohibited drop-off zone for about 30 minutes before airport security officials clamped its tyres.
He said the investigation found that Obi arrived at the domestic terminal on July 4 at about 8:28pm in a vehicle driven by a police officer. After Obi entered the terminal with two other occupants, the driver parked the vehicle close to the entrance and also left it unattended.
Keyamo said the officer briefly returned to the vehicle to collect an item before leaving it again, prompting airport security personnel to clamp the tyres.
“In doing this, contrary to the claims by Peter Obi, nobody was inside the car and so nobody knew whether it was his car (not that it should matter, anyway),” the minister said.
He also alleged that after discovering the vehicle had been clamped, the police officer contacted Obi, who spoke with the airport manager over the phone.
“Mr. Peter Obi then introduced himself and spoke with the manager, peddled his ‘influence’ and requested for the release of the vehicle. His vehicle was then released without him paying the necessary fine.”
Keyamo said leaving a vehicle unattended in the drop-off zone for about 30 minutes posed a security risk and violated airport regulations.
He accused Obi of attempting to create a false narrative for political gain.
“What has emerged from this is a clear case of an opposition candidate trying to whip up unnecessary sentiments for a wrong he committed with his driver.”
The minister said the matter had already been resolved by airport authorities before Obi made it public.
“But ever determined to milk any situation to score cheap political points, Mr. Peter Obi decided to go on air to render a false narrative.”
Keyamo demanded that Obi issue “an unreserved, public apology” to airport workers and return to the airport to pay the N25,000 fine for wrongful parking.
“He cannot be bigger than the law,” the minister said.
He added that if Obi fails to comply within one week, he will direct the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to “take the next steps against him.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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