The 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, has criticised Ibom Airlines Limited for banning a passenger identified as Comfort Emmanson from flying with its airline after she was found assaulting one of the crew members of their aircraft.
Peter Obi, in a statement via X on Tuesday titled, ‘The Poor Must Not Be Punished While the Powerful Walk Free’, said the ban on Emmanson is systemically wrong and unjust.
The former Anambra State Governor questioned the process followed, which led to Emmanson’s sanction, and whether the authorities had exhausted the avenues of justice and compassionate resolution on the matter.
Peter Obi further referenced the case of Fuji singer, King Wasui Ayinde Marshal, better known as KWAM1, stating that the authorities acted with lightning speed in Emmanson’s case, but the same urgency is absent when dealing with the influential and politically connected.
He said, “Yesterday, I sincerely apologised to Ibom Air and its crew for the unacceptable conduct of one of their passengers.
“This morning, I woke up to learn that the passenger, the young Ms. Comfort Emmanson in her twenties, has been banned from flying for life once again showing how our system works, proving the truth of Anacharsis’ words that “the law is like a spider’s web: it catches the weak, while the powerful break through with ease.
“There is everything systemically wrong and unjust about this authoritarian decision. What due process was followed overnight leading to this sanction? Have we exhausted the avenues of justice and compassionate resolution on this matter?
“It is a tragic irony that a young lady in her twenties can be banned for life, while we her parents commit worse crimes against humanity and are celebrated; those in positions of authority perpetrate far greater offences that harm the nation deeply, yet move freely in comfort, shielded from consequences, and in Ms. Emmanson’s case, the authorities acted with lightning speed, but the same urgency is absent when dealing with the influential and politically connected.
“If this young woman, who indeed acted wrongly, now seeks to apologise, who will hear her cry in a country where the pain of the poor is invisible and the dignity of the less privileged is often disregarded? Justice must be consistent, or it becomes oppression in disguise.
“This must change. Justice must be equal for all. There must be room for compassion, for rehabilitation, and for understanding when misconduct stems from frustration or displaced aggression. Power must never determine who is punished and who is pardoned.
“May God heal our land.”
