APC decries alleged maltreatment of Oshiomhole, others by Air Peace

The South-South zonal chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has decried the alleged maltreatment of the former Governor of Edo State, Sen. Adams Oshiomhole, by operators of Air Peace airline.

The South-South zonal organizing secretary, Mr. Blessing Agbomhere, in a statement on Thursday, called on the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to wake up from its long slumber, as the world has gone beyond Nigeria’s poorly regulated airline industry, which gives local operators the leeway to delay, cancel, and roundtrip tickets purchased by unsuspecting customers, thereby denying them the opportunity to travel on schedule without any sort of sanction on erring airlines.

The party was reacting to the shoddy treatment meted out to Oshiomhole, who represents Edo North senatorial district, by the management of Air Peace, denying him the opportunity of flying back to Abuja from Terminal 1 (Zulu Hall) of the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos, despite checking in online and arriving twenty-five minutes before the departure of his 6:30 a.m. flight on Wednesday.

Agbomhere described the attitude of Air Peace as unjust, dubious, and in violation of the principles guiding operations in the aviation industry, adding that it is a continuation of the airline’s lawless and chaotic operations, which should no longer be tolerated by Nigerians.

Agbomhere claimed that Air Peace Airline is fast operating as if it is above the law and is notorious for “eye service” humanitarian services carried out by its Chairman, Allen Onyema, all in a bid to perpetually cover up its atrocious poor treatment of Nigerians.

“There are several reports by Nigerians against the airline, but these complaints keep being swept under the carpet, thereby emboldening the airline to continue acting as if there is no regulator in the sector in Nigeria,” it noted.

“This has to stop, and if it takes the poor treatment of Senator Oshiomhole to stop the nefarious activities of Air Peace, then I’m sure that even the former Governor of Edo State is willing to make that sacrifice.

“It is also disheartening to note that the airline was bold enough to release a statement with deliberate falsehood, stating that the Senator arrived at the airport twenty minutes late, an obvious lie that should have been spotted by its Chairman, who has in recent times taken up the role of an activist and freedom fighter akin to Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, but who cannot spot the wicked and inhuman treatment perpetuated right under his nose by his airline.

“While calling for a total overhaul of NCAA, I am also issuing a one-week ultimatum from the day of the release of this statement to the management of Air Peace to take action by carrying out an immediate investigation into the matter and sanctioning all its staff involved in the incident.

“The airline should also tender an unreserved apology to Senator Oshiomhole for the distress and embarrassment caused him and ensure that it improves its customer care service for the interest of the flying masses.”

Agbomhere called on the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Festus Keyamo, to use his good office to ensure that the NCAA is mandated to carry out the necessary investigations on the matter in order to save Nigeria’s local air services from being turned into a bastion of inefficiency and corruption.