The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has threatened that the airport authorities would take drastic action against the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, if he fails to apologise to airport officials and pay a N25,000 fine for allegedly violating parking regulations at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Obi had accused the All Progressives Congress-led federal government of subjecting him to victimisation and wanting him dead in a recent interview.
Supporting his claim, the former Anambra State governor said his businesses are being attacked, alleging further that he recently had an unfair treatment at the airport, with his car unjustly clamped and was not hold to the same standard as other motorist.
The allegation has now drawn reaction from the aviation minister.
Keyamo in a statement on Friday said an internal investigation, supported by CCTV footage from the airport, contradicted Obi’s claim of his vehicle unjustly clamp.
The minister said the incident occurred on July 4 when Obi arrived at the airport’s domestic terminal at about 8:28pm, saying after the NDC Presidential candidate alighted from the vehicle, his police driver parked in a designated drop-off zone, left the vehicle unattended and entered the terminal, contrary to airport regulations.
Keyamo said the driver briefly returned to the vehicle before leaving it unattended again, prompting airport security personnel to clamp its tyres.
He maintained that airport officials had no knowledge the vehicle belonged to Obi when they carried out the enforcement action.
The minister further alleged that when the driver discovered the vehicle had been clamped, he contacted Obi, who then spoke with the airport manager and requested the vehicle’s release.
According to Keyamo, the vehicle was released without payment of the prescribed N25,000 penalty.
He said leaving a vehicle unattended in a restricted airport zone for about 30 minutes posed a significant security risk and violated global aviation safety standards.
Keyamo accused Obi of attempting to gain political sympathy by portraying the enforcement action as persecution.
He argued that the matter had already been resolved before Obi made public comments alleging unfair treatment.
The minister demanded that Obi issue an unreserved public apology to airport workers, whom he said were merely carrying out their lawful duties, and voluntarily return to pay the parking fine.
Keyamo warned that if Obi failed to comply within one week, he would direct the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to take further action.
