Festus Keyamo Gives Peter Obi 7-Day Ultimatum Over Abuja Airport Incident, Demands Apology and N25,000 Fine

Festus Keyamo Gives Peter Obi 7-Day Ultimatum Over Abuja Airport Incident, Demands Apology and N25,000 Fine

Abuja, Nigeria — Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Labour Party's 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, demanding a public apology to airport officials and payment of a N25,000 parking violation fine over an incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The minister made the demand in a statement released on Friday after an internal investigation into the incident, which had sparked widespread public debate.

CCTV Footage Contradicts Peter Obi's Claims, Says Keyamo

According to Keyamo, an investigation supported by CCTV footage revealed that Obi's vehicle was clamped for violating airport parking regulations—not because of political persecution, as earlier suggested.

The minister explained that the incident occurred on July 4 when Peter Obi arrived at the airport's domestic terminal at approximately 8:28 p.m.

He stated that after Obi exited the vehicle, his police driver parked in a designated drop-off zone, left the vehicle unattended, and entered the terminal, an action prohibited under airport regulations.

Why Peter Obi's Vehicle Was Clamped

Keyamo said the driver briefly returned to the vehicle before leaving it unattended once again. Airport security personnel subsequently clamped the vehicle after observing it remained in the restricted area for an extended period.

According to the minister, airport officials were unaware the vehicle belonged to Peter Obi when they enforced the regulations.

He further disclosed that after discovering the vehicle had been clamped, the driver contacted Obi, who then reached out to the airport manager to request its release.

The vehicle, Keyamo noted, was eventually released without payment of the mandatory N25,000 penalty.

Aviation Minister Warns of Security Risks

The minister stressed that leaving a vehicle unattended in a restricted airport zone for nearly 30 minutes constitutes a serious security breach and violates internationally accepted aviation safety standards.

He argued that airport personnel acted professionally and strictly in accordance with established regulations designed to protect passengers and airport infrastructure.

Keyamo Accuses Obi of Politicising the Incident

Keyamo accused Peter Obi of attempting to gain political sympathy by portraying the enforcement action as an act of persecution.

According to him, the issue had already been resolved before Obi publicly alleged unfair treatment by airport authorities.

The minister insisted that airport workers deserve an apology for carrying out their lawful responsibilities.

Seven-Day Deadline Issued

Keyamo has now given Peter Obi seven days to:

- Issue an unreserved public apology to airport officials.

- Pay the outstanding N25,000 parking violation fine.

He warned that failure to comply within the stipulated period would compel him to direct the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to take further action.

The development has generated intense reactions across social media, with Nigerians expressing differing opinions on whether the airport officials acted appropriately and whether the minister's demands are justified.

>>> What do you think? Should Peter Obi apologise and pay the fine, or is the minister's ultimatum unnecessary? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don't forget to like, share, and follow for more breaking Nigerian news and political updates.