Yerima recalled how Air Peace chairman, Allen Oyeama, once delayed flight for the entourage of Prof Ango Abdullahi to catch up at his request
The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum(AYCF) has called on prominent Nigerians to intercede in the misunderstanding between the office of the Director of Protocol, Alhaji Isa Bayero and the management of Air Peace “for peace to reign, once and for all”.
A statement signed by the National President of the group and issued to newsmen on Sunday noted that ” it is worrisome that a viable solution to the ongoing misunderstanding seems far away because elders in the country are yet to either pay attention to or make move in the interest of peace”.
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The National President, in the statement expressed surprise that Air Peace chairman…”is being associated with disrespecting the Emir of Kano because the Onyeama I know has never ever been linked to disrespect for monarch in the North, much less the Emir of Kano”.
He explained that the Air Peace chairman has made business sacrifices, evacuating Nigerians from troubled spots around the world, “with the most recent being that of South Africa’s xenophobic attacks and we hope this matter will not obliterate such sacrifices”.
Turning to the favor of delayed flight, the AYCF leader gave an instance of what happened “two years ago, when I humbly asked the Air Peace Chairman to delay a flight for us, in the entourage of Chairman Northern Elders Forum, Professor Ango Abdullahi, the CNG Chairman Board of Trustees, Nastura Ashir Shariff and he promptly did. I can recall vividly, that we were travelling by road from Ibadan to Lagos in order to catch Air Peace plane for our return to Abuja that time; and he did that favor by delaying the flight for over an hour – notwithstanding I’m not a revered monarch like His Royal Highness the current Emir of Kano.
“And the Air Peace Chairman later told me why he did that favor. He said he delayed flight because you and Ango Abdullahi were doing peace shuttles around Nigeria to douse certain tensions. And you were about missing another important peace shuttle in Abuja if that flight was not delayed.
“That, Allen Onyema said that he would do anything for peace to reign in the country hence he delayed the flight. So, we just hope this matter does not get out of hand or create the wrong impression that the Air Peace chairman was being needlessly intimidated by the Emirate’s Director of Protocol.
“As a group, the AYCF holds the Emir of Kano in very high esteem and it is well-known that if anyone had ever tried belittle any Emir in the North, we would be the first to fire back. And that is why we are disturbed that our dear Emirate and Air Peace matter has become protracted”, AYCF said.
The AYCF, in the statement, urged “prominent Nigerians to intervene very quickly in the interest of peace.
“We don’t want our beloved Kano, the financial nerve centre of the North to have lesser number of commercial airlines plying the State”.
The group said “tactical diplomacy is required in ending the worrisome problem and prominent Nigerians are best suited to handle this important matter involving two important pillars of Kano’s economic growth – the royal father whose blessing is needed to move Kano forward and Air Peace which is providing vital business services for the State”, the statement pointed out.