- Safiu Kehinde
Idris Zekeri, the spokesperson of Peter Obi’s Media Office, has faulted the CCTV footage of the airport saga involving the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Presidential candidate and the account of the incident as narrated by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.
NPO Reported that Obi had during an interview last week alleged being targeted at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport where his car was locked by the airport officials over wrong parking.
The 2027 NDC presidential candidate alleged that his car was singled out by the officials despite presence of other cars parked within the same area.
Reacting to the allegation, Keyamo released a purported CCTV footage of the incident as he accused the former Anambra governor of lying.
The minister claimed that Obi wrongfully parked at the area which led to the action of the officials.
He demanded public apology from the ex-Anambra governor.
This would however be refuted by the Obi’s media team as Zekeri, in a statement released on Sunday, made clarifications on the released CCTV footage and Keyamo’s account.
Zekeri firstly denied the minister’s claim identifying Obi’s driver in the footage as a police officer.
He held that Obi does not have any police or civil defence personnel attached to him.
“Contrary to your account of events surrounding Mr. Peter Obi’s transit through the Abuja Airport on Saturday, July 4, it has become necessary to set the record straight.
“Mr. Peter Obi does not have any police or civil defence personnel attached to him in Abuja, despite being entitled to VVIP protection by virtue of his status as a leading opposition figure in Nigeria.
“He certainly does not have a police officer serving as his driver.
“Your reference to a “police driver” appears to have been based on the assumption that he enjoys the level of security protection ordinarily accorded to someone of his standing.
“He does not. Mr. Obi travels through multiple airports across Nigeria well over a dozen times every week.” He said.
The media aide further claimed that Obi had repeatedly been under unusual discourtesy directed at him by government officials, stressing that he had witnessed some of them.
He also claimed to be with the former Anambra governor during the airport encounter.
Meanwhile, Zekeri held that the CCTV footage released by Keyamo was not from the incident Obi was referring to in the interview.
“As someone who frequently travels with him, I have personally witnessed repeated instances of unusual discourtesy directed at him by some government personnel.
“From your own account of events, it is evident that the incident Mr. Obi referred to during his interview occurred on a different date and at a different airport from the one referenced in your tweet. However, let me address the incident you chose to publicise.
“The incident you posted is entirely different from the one Mr. Peter Obi narrated in his interview. In that interview, he clearly stated: “I was there…” In the incident contained in your tweet, he was not present.
“If we now have at least two separate incidents in which vehicles associated with Mr. Obi were clamped under questionable circumstances, does this not suggest a pattern of targeting an individual simply because of who he is?
“The entire sequence of events you referenced, from arrival to the eventual clamping of the vehicle, lasted approximately five minutes.
“At most airports around the world, including major international airports, a ten-minute drop-off window is generally considered acceptable.
“Where, then, did the claim of 30 minutes originate? Do you not agree that half-truths can sometimes be more misleading than outright falsehoods?
“Is it not a fact that several other vehicles were in the vicinity of Mr. Obi’s vehicle without attracting similar attention from airport officials?
“Indeed, some of those vehicles had been parked there long before Mr. Obi’s vehicle arrived, yet none was clamped.
“I have personally been at the airport on several occasions when serving and former government officials arrived in large convoys, blocked access routes, and caused considerable inconvenience to the travelling public, without any agency of government taking similar action.” He said.
Zekeri further queried Keyamo over failure to release of CCTV footage of similar airport incident which involved Nigerian fuji icon, Wasiu Ayinde, and Edo lawmaker, Sen. Monday Okpebholo.
He accused the minister of breaching Obi’s personal security as no worngdoing was established.
“Under your watch, there have been other high-profile airport incidents, including: The disruption involving Senator Adams Oshiomhole and airline staff.
“The incident involving Mr. Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (KWAM 1), a known associate of the President, who allegedly attempted to prevent an aircraft from departing.
“You are undoubtedly aware of both incidents. Where was this same enthusiasm to instigate public outrage and issue official condemnations? Was CCTV footage from those incidents also released, or was the CCTV system only activated when it involved Mr. Peter Obi?
“Can the publication of CCTV footage detailing Mr. Peter Obi’s movements on your personal social media platform be considered a serious breach of his personal security?
“Your footage established no wrongdoing. Instead, you further exposed the movements of a leading opposition figure whose security concerns are already significant.
“Would you release equivalent CCTV footage of other presidential candidates of Mr. Obi’s standing who travel in private and presidential aircraft funded by taxpayers?
“Should a leading presidential candidate not be accorded security protocols consistent with democratic best practices?” He asked.
The media aide accused Keyamo of being hostile to Obi, stressing that his action against the NDC presidential candidate was politically motivated.
“The tone of your tweet conveyed unusual hostility and contempt towards Mr. Peter Obi.
“Are Nigerians to conclude that this treatment is politically motivated and reflective of a broader strategy to weaken a major opposition contender ahead of the next general election?
“You further threatened to direct FAAN to take unspecified action against Mr. Obi. Are you the accuser, the investigator, the judge, and the executioner in the same matter? As Minister of Aviation, are you now positioning yourself as the law itself?
“Mr Keyamo, are you the Law? Conclusion This issue goes far beyond a clamped vehicle. It concerns equal treatment under the law, the security of opposition figures, the neutrality of state institutions, and the standards expected in a constitutional democracy. Nigerians deserve answers to these questions. Thank you for your attention to this matter.” He wrote.