KWAM 1: Lawlessness as basic requirement for national honour

PHEW! Less than a week after the airport incident involving the legendary Nigerian Fuji music singer, K-1 De Ultimate (a.k.a. KWAM I, or Wasiu Ayinde Marshal), significant changes have occurred. On August 5, K-1 engaged some staff of the ValuJet airline and the Abuja airport in a dangerous standoff on the tarmac. Wasiu, who had been deboarded from the ValuJet flight for acts considered gross violations of the airline’s and airport rules, went right to the nose of the jet to prevent it from moving.

What led to the act has been well documented, but what is unforgettable is that the musician, brazenly and recklessly, akin to a terrorist-style attempted passenger plane hijack, or an “agbero” manner of seizing the steering of a “danfo” bus to stop it in a typical Lagos motor park, held up the flight for over forty minutes, preventing the plane from taxiing or taking off. The pilot, one Captain Oluranti Ogoyi, who seemed to have run out of patience and may not have waited for a last-minute clearance to take off, revved the engine and moved the plane swiftly, putting the obstinate musician and the staff around in harm’s way. But they all escaped death or fatal injuries by a whisker. What was most dramatic about the incident was the commando-like manner in which K-1 escaped the left wing of the Bombardier CRJ jet, which could have removed his head from his neck. But for God, that day could have been a tragic one for the Fuji music community in Nigeria.

Immediately after this incident, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) announced the suspension of the flight captain and her co-pilot for breaching aviation safety rules. A few hours later, that same day, Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo (SAN), took a swipe at K-1 and the pilots, berating them for their recklessness, lawlessness, and for not demonstrating good judgment when it mattered. He urged the NCAA to be fair and apply the law on K-1, too, and swiftly, the NCAA announced the singer’s ban from all local and international flights for six months. Later, it was increased to an indefinite ban. Keyamo went ahead to warn that any airlines that attempt to fly the musician would have their operating licences suspended immediately.

However, a few days later, on August 10 precisely, just four days after KWAM 1 issued a recorded video apology for his irresponsible behaviour, one errant female passenger, Comfort Emmanson, on a flight from Uyo to Lagos, was seen in videos posted online acting like a demon-possessed thug. A minor incident as switching off an electronic device, turned into a major wrestling match on and off the flight as video footage showed how the passenger was physically assaulting two cabin crew members and ground staff of the airline and airport. In the process of being bundled out of the plane initially, Comfort’s shirt got torn apart, exposing her braless bust line. More videos showed all sorts of violent behaviour that the female passenger exhibited. In the end, Lady Emmanson was arrested and detained at Kirikiri Prison in Lagos, and Ibom Air disclosed that she had been banned from flying with them for life. The NCAA was considering similar measures and had hinted that she would also be prosecuted in court.

But two days after what seemed like a smooth course of justice in Nigeria after a long hiatus, a U-turn happened. The two offenders would have their ‘sentences’ commuted. K-I, who had been enjoying the comfort of his home since his ugly show and had not been remanded in detention like KWAM 2 (sorry, Lady Comfort), would have his indefinite ban reduced not to the previous six months, but only one month. So would Madam Comfort be released from detention, and her case be reviewed? Netizens, as always, became divided on Comfort’s matter, saying that she was the one assaulted and had been put behind bars while the well-connected K-1 was at home. Many people, buoyed by the sorry images of two massive objects exposed, began to stand by, for, or with Lady Comfort. Some were genuinely pissed by the manner in her being dragged out of the aircraft. A very concerned Nigerian, an aide to Governor Sheriff of Delta State, even reportedly offered to give her a job, with about half a million Naira monthly paycheck.

What came as a rude shock is that the two aviation law offenders would be made ambassadors of aviation almost immediately after their acts. Now this is the deal: It is not a bad idea to be pardoned or reprimanded after all; what is bemusing is the swift turn of tides within a space of just five-six days. Neither of the offenders has even experienced any trial or conviction; routine investigations have not even commenced, let alone the culprits serving any punishment for their acts, yet almost immediately, help has come, clearance has come, and then a crown has come. They would both be Aviation Ambassadors.

Let us understand something. As some people argued, being made brand ambassadors after the shameful acts is not a thing of pride, but that of shame. True, but the standard practice in sane climes is to first investigate these offences, prosecute the offenders, and then consider them for parole (if sentenced), and they could be made ambassadors as a community service, which is a sort of punitive measure or permanent reprimand.

These things apply differently based on the social or cultural context. In the US, this is 100 per cent the case. It is a reprimand. But do we have that practice in Nigeria? Are people aware of this? Have we done it before? Do we want to start the practice now and make it a national culture? It is not a standard practice in Nigeria. In our country, in which people have lost confidence because of the unchecked and perpetual reign of impunity, being ‘crowned’ ambassador a few hours after grave offences or gross criminal acts is a misnomer. For the supporters of the offenders and the offenders themselves, it will be seen as vindication, which would soon be followed by a victory lap through braggadocious posts on social media or the release of celebratory Fuji musical lyrics to spite imaginary enemies. This is our culture, and we have seen these things before. The ruling party’s former chairman and a sitting senator of the Republic, Adams Oshiomhole, had an incident at the airport a few months ago, which has been swept under the carpet. A transgender or cross-dressing celebrity once boasted his (her) five-star hotel treatment while serving a jail term, but no one was held to account.

Impunity and elite privileges underline Nigeria’s national life, and this KWAM 1-Comfort case is just one of them. For K-1, it could be his connections and celebrity status that help him. For Comfort, it seems like her physical attractiveness may have gotten some men to dive in like Voltron to defend her. Gender-inspired sentiments may also have a role to play in her matter.

How fast events have changed within hours after they occurred has led me to come to some predictable conclusions. To become a celebrity or earn recognition in Nigeria, just misbehave on national television or social media. Just do some crazy things and voila, you are made! To become an aviation ambassador in Nigeria, just go ahead and constitute a nuisance at the airport, disrupt an airline’s operations, stand right in front of a plane to prevent it from flying, escape like Spider-Man from being beheaded by the plane’s wing, or simply throw slaps around on the faces of cabin crew members. You will get noticed faster than you think, and get appointed as the face of that brand, or get a job with 500,000 as a monthly wage. But, wait… do you have the President’s direct MTN phone number, or are you his Official Election Campaign Musician? Mind you, 2027 is just around the corner. Do you have an attractive physique as a woman? If you are neither of these two categories, don’t try that shit.

Meanwhile, shout out to FAAN, NCAA, Minister Festus Keyamo (on whom we showered praises for his good leadership on the matter just a few days ago), and Nigerians themselves for always taking sides with unbelievable things. Thanks to all of us for making Nigeria such a mess!

• Professor Folarin teaches at Texas State University-US and the University of Rwanda, and is a Senior Research Associate at the Institute of the Future of Knowledge, University of Johannesburg, South Africa.

READ ALSO: KWAM 1, Esu and Asasi