Why Nigeria’s aviation should not be politicised

For some time now the atmosphere in the country generally has been charged with the activities of the political class as they try to outsmart each other in the game of politicking as the year 2019 draws closer.

Here the politicians in their desperate move to score political points have continued to engage each other in a do or die game all in the name of gaining supremacy. As usual, the politicians in their resolve to achieve their goal often forget that it’s not everyone that has interest in politics.

In well-organized climes, people play politics without infringing on the fundamental rights of others or cause distraction to other sectors.

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Ordinarily, no one will be disturbed if the politicians are carrying on with their activities without creating distractions, but sadly, each time elections are around the corner, such politicians tend to throw things upside down by going beyond their bounds.

The Nigerian politicians in their desperate bids often forget that there are some areas that do not require politics or politicking, in other words, there are some areas which abhor politics in view of there sensitivity as stipulated by rules and regulations set down by international standards.

Among such sensitive areas include the country’s aviation sector which happens to be the most regulated in view of the global best practices guiding and  guarding critical components that connote air safety and security.

In other words, airport vicinities are places devoid of emotional sentiments or local politics where all rules are applicable to every class no matter how  highly placed which brings to the fore the ongoing furore the recent search conducted on the private jet of a one time Vice President of the country, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku and now the presidential candidate for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) by aviation authorities at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.

Since the action was carried out, different people with different ulterior motives have said different things or attributed the action to different things including reading political meanings into the search.

To some, Atiku’s private jet was subjected to search because of his political party while some even attributed the search to the decision of the airport authorities to humiliate him which the minister of state for aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika has addressed.

While no one can vouch for anypolitician, but the point here is that aviation has its rules which must be complied with without any sentiment for the purpose of safety and this is how it is done in other climes.

There is therefore, nothing wrong in searching the private jet of Alhaji Atiku on the day in question for so many reasons including what the aviation rules say as who to be searched or whose aircraft should be searched.

The only thing that can arouse suspicion is if no such search has been conducted on somebody of Atiku’s caliber in the past which may not be correct.

Even this act of mixing politics with aviation rules is not coming for the first time as it could still be remembered how a private jet carrying a politician few years ago was grounded for failing to declare the identity of those on board according to the aviation rules.

The development was politicized by the politician and his political party then simply because the then minister of aviation belonged to another party.

This idea of politicizing aviation related issues should be discouraged by all meaning Nigerians while professionals should be allowed to do their jobs without any sentiment or politics.

Now that 2019 general elections is around the corner, the time has come for the political class to realize that the country’s aviation sector has an international rules its following. Therefore, when such rules are applied to them, they should see it as a sacrifice they have to pay for security and safety.

While the aviation authorities have the right to carry out their functions without fear or sentiments, there is however the need for the authorities to  let the politicians know that aviation rules are applicable to all cadres except  in some cases which have been  clearly stated.