Air Peace, Emir of Kano tussle gets messier
... as Bayero's protocol officer gives airline 72 hours ultimatum to apologise
The tussle between the Emir Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero and Air Peace got messier as the Emir’s protocol officer, Isa Bayero, has given the airline 72 hours to apologise for embarrassing the monarch.
The Emir’s cousin asked the airline to publish an apology in a national daily and then come personally to the Emir to tender an apology.
Bayero had written a petition to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, asking that Airline should be punished for its disrespect of the Kano Emir.
According to him, he had requested that the Kano-bound airline be delayed to accommodate the Emir.
Airpeace in its response through the airline’s Chief Operating Officer, Toyin Olajide, however said they didn’t disrespect the Emir, but held him in high regard.
“I am giving an ultimatum of 72 hours for Air Peace to tender an apology to the emir, first in a national daily and secondly to come down in person to the emir. We would not hesitate to go extra miles to correct the ‘misnormal’,” Isa Bayero said.
“The action of Air Peace is sentimental and unprofessional and we can go any length to defend and protect any act of insensitivity against our prestigious traditional institution.
“That insult is not heaped on the Emir alone but on the good people of Kano and folding our hands on this could trigger something worse and more ridiculous.
“I wrote to the DG NCAA, to complain but if someone claimed my statement is inciting, well, they are entitled to their opinion. But come to think of it, inciting who? Kano people not to fly Air Peace anymore because the airline insulted their emir and refused to apologise? That I have no regret if anybody claimed or interprets my complaint that way.
“After all, Air Peace has been in business before coming to Kano and Kano people have been flying across the world without Air Peace. So if that is what he wanted, so be it, we will get there.
“I am a professional pilot. I have flown five Heads of State besides being a prince of Kano, and I am a personal friend to the Chairman of Air Peace, Mr Onyema.”
