For most of the last 12 days, we have been treated to the undignified spectacle between former Edo State governor and now senator, Adams Oshiomhole, and the management of Air Peace Airline, Nigeria’s largest airline.
Air Peace Airlines reported that Senator Oshiomhole had tried to disrupt their operations at Lagos Airport. They said he arrived at Murtala Mohammed Airport late for the early morning flight to Abuja, and when he was denied boarding, he became unruly and caused disruption to flight operations. They added that the senator climbed onto the baggage conveyor belt, preventing the check-in process, and ordered his security team to block the entrance to the airport terminal, thereby preventing the plane from leaving.
Videos and pictures of the encounters were widely depicted in the media. However, Senator Oshiomhole, in a press conference, stated that he arrived at the airport 30 minutes before departure, having checked in online, but was denied boarding at the counter. He noticed that there were several other passengers suffering a similar fate. He also observed that while those who bought their tickets online were denied boarding and left unattended to, tickets were still being sold at exorbitant prices to those who were just coming to the airport. This is what prompted him to demand his rights and those of the other stranded passengers.
When I saw the video of the senator stomping on the conveyor belt, I was mightily amused. I surmised that Adams Oshiomhole was just recreating his labour leader act. He was even dressed for it, in the usual off-colour khaki shirt and trousers, complete with the inevitable face cap. What we saw in the video was not a depiction of a former governor or a serving senator but a labour leader in action. Those who have followed his labour union career attest to his always being relentless and loud in his pursuit and inflexible in his demands. Show him what looks like injustice, and he would be up and doing.
This sets me going back to an encounter I had with the senator, many years ago, when he was at the height of his labour leader days. In 2003, I was Secretary/Director of Admin in NIPSS, Kuru, and during preparations for graduation, the Nigerian Labour Union nominee to the course found that his name was missing because he did not meet all the requirements to be conferred the prestigious acronym, mni, that is, Member of the National Institute. He raised complaints to no avail, and finally, he reached out to the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress, who was then Adams Oshiomhole. The labour leader put us under intense pressure to graduate his nominee, making frantic and persistent phone calls until he realised that NIPSS was not ready to back down.
I am not surprised that the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) have come out to strongly condemn the actions of Adams Oshiomhole at the Lagos airport. It is understandable, as the AON is the umbrella association of indigenous carriers, and one would expect them to side with one of their own. They stated: “There is no amount of disappointment, if at all, from any airline that should lead you to self-help. What happened is a typical example of unruly behaviour. That is not acceptable, Air Peace is a respectable airline, they carry 40-50 per cent of all the domestic passengers, and they deserve respect.”
While not condoning the unbefitting and disruptive behaviour of Senator Oshiomhole at the Air Peace Airline counter, my perspective is that the AON needs to do a lot of soul searching to chastise its members. What the senator has complained about is a general industry practice among the airlines. Many airline passengers have been victims of this unholy practice of extortion at the counter by the staff of the airlines. I know because I have experienced it. At the end of last year, I planned to travel to Lagos to attend an NDIC event. I asked my son to purchase a ticket for me. He did, but he mistakenly bought the ticket in his name. I didn’t notice the blunder till when I was at the airport. All explanations to the counter staff fell on deaf ears. However, as the flight was not full, the counter staff asked me to buy another ticket to be on board the flight. I promptly did, but I paid almost twice the price of the ticket I bought earlier.
As for Adams Oshiomhole, one would be bold to advise him that it is time he saw himself as a statesman. He must realise that his labour leader days of yore are practically over. He has lately been a state governor for eight years and is now a serving senator, both offices requiring a good amount of gravitas. Jumping over the conveyor belt in the airport and running around trying to block terminals does not portray him in a good light. He must now learn to conduct himself with sober dignity, whatever the provocation.
