Ever since Senator Adams Oshiomhole was alleged to have caused chaos at the local airport in his bid to catch a morning flight to Abuja, the Nigerian aviation industry has been hit with various unpleasant episodes that portrayed us as chaotic and unruly people.
From the Airline handlers to the passengers, so much has been seen and said that raised concerns about legal infractions, absurd protocols, noncompliance with simple rules, selective justice, human rights, regulatory laxity and government intervention.
During the “Kwam one” episode that involved the popular Fuji music exponent, what started with arrogance and senseless stubbornness quickly ended with an insincere apology, a 6-month sanction, and afterthought charges with a promised ongoing investigation. At the same time, the nation and the social media spaces were agog with noise for or against the authorities’ decision.
And then “Kwam Two” happened. A young lady who displayed a glaringly unacceptable behaviour was handled or manhandled in a most unprofessional manner, raising a buzz on social media spaces with arguments and reasons doing violence to one another. In a twinkling of an eye, what looked like a decisive response by the authorities landed the young lady in a remand at a correctional facility in Kirikiri.
In a Country where an apology has become a consequence for wrongdoing and a replacement for punitive measures, tongues started wagging as to the rightness and otherwise of the decisions taken by the authorities in both cases comparatively speaking.
While we were all engulfed in the emotional mixed bag, the NBA fired the first major salvo, taking a position on the side of Justice which by extension favours the remanded young Ibom Air passenger. The fear of the NBA appears to be the beginning of wisdom as several voices rose to give the NBA’s position some support. If there was a high interest in “Kwam One” from high quarters, the NBA’s voice has provided a commensurate “interest” in “Kwam Two”. And the battle line was drawn.
But we woke up today to the”good news” that despite the two major episodes of “Kwam One” and “Kwam Two”, there were no qualms after all. The Press Release issued by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Management, Festus Keyamo, himself a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has called for mercy and mitigation of “offences” by all parties to the crisis.
In Nigeria, that is how we roll. Justice and injustice don’t seem to have a definition outside the whimsical application of those who wield them. What is good for the geese is not always good for the gander. Could Justice have arrived in “Kwam One” if there were no incidents of “Kwam Two”? Is “Kwam Two” the real reason for the “general pardon” or “Kwam One”?
There’s no arguing the fact that a dangerous precedent is being laid and we’re all smiling and laughing while the aviation industry worldwide is watching. Well, for the sake of a temporary peace and sanity, let us accept the “ruling” that despite all the “Kwams”, there’s no qualm at all.
