Abuja Airport Drama: KWAM1 Should Face Terrorism Charge – ADC

By Ayodele Oni

Despite his retraction and public apology, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has insisted that the action of the Fuji music star, Wasiu Ayinde, Kwam 1, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja amounts to terrorism.

The ADC is of the view that KWAM1’s political ties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) could influence the handling of the matter, warning against preferential treatment.

The party believes that the law must take its course not minding that the musician sings for  President Bola Tinubu.

Spokesperson for the opposition ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, in a statement, condemned the  conduct of the Fuji musician, and  described it as “an act of terrorism”.

KWAM1, who was booked to travel on a ValueJet flight on Tuesday attempted to block the aircraft from taking off after a dispute with the Airport Security and flight crew.

According to reports, the singer was seen drinking from a flask and was approached by an Airport staff who suspected the content was alcohol, a prohibited substance onboard aircraft in Nigeria to allow them see the contents.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) further alleged that KWAM1 spilt the content on an aviation personnel who attempted to verify the content of the flask.

Following the incident, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, announced a six-month flight ban on the Fuji star, describing his conduct as a “hostage situation.”

While commending Keyamo’s swift response, Abdullahi insisted the penalty was insufficient and called for KWAM1’s prosecution.

“On this KWAM1 matter, I commend my brother, the Honourable Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, for describing the action as a ‘hostage situation.’

“A hostage situation is an act of terrorism. Placing KWAM1 on a no-fly list is a good place to start. But it must not end there,”Abdullahi wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

“Nigerians know that KWAM1 is the official musician of the APC. They will, therefore, wait to see if this fact alone would influence how this matter is handled.

“If it were an ordinary citizen, it is doubtful if the individual would not be arrested on the spot and processed for prosecution.”

Abdullahi further warned that such conduct could damage Nigeria’s image internationally.

“Even if all our airports are plated in gold, if people coming into our country feel that any drunkard could block the path of an aircraft and endanger their lives, it would amount to nothing.

“Pray, if KWAM1 had done this in Europe or America, what do you think would have happened to him by now? What he did was the ULTIMATE in reckless behaviour.

“It is an act of terrorism and it should be treated as such. You can’t give him a mere slap on the wrist for this just because he sings for the president.”