Prominent politician, Peter Obi, has described the no-flight life ban imposed on Comfort Emmanson, the lady in a viral altercation with Ibom Air and airport officials, as unjust.
It would be recalled that Emmanson got into a violent confrontation with aviation security and Ibom Air officials last Sunday over a directive to shut down her phone.
The incident escalated rapidly with the airline staff calling on airport security to apprehend the lady after she allegedly attacked some air hostesses.
Two men, believed to be aviation security officials, entered the cabin to physically carry out the enraged passenger from the aircraft, with her top slipping off, exposing her bosom.
The umbrella body of Airlines in the country, after reviewing the case, announced an indefinite ban on Comfort Emmanson.
Obi has now described the ban as unjust and wrong.
Writing on his verified X handle, Obi recalled that yesterday, he apologised to Ibom Air and its crew for the bad conduct of the passenger.
He, however, expressed his indignation that he woke up to learn that the passenger had been banned from flying for life.
He said the situation was akin to punishing the poor, while the rich and powerful walked free.
According to him, everything was systemically wrong and unjust about the ‘authoritarian decision’.
He queried the due process followed overnight, leading to the sanction. He wondered if all avenues of justice and compassionate resolution had been exhausted on the matter before the decision was taken.
Obi said it was a tragic irony that a young lady in her twenties could be banned for life, while those who were old enough to be her parents did worse things and were celebrated.
The politician claimed that those in positions of authority perpetrated far greater offences that harmed the nation deeply, but were not punished.
He said on the case of the unruly lady, the authorities acted with lightning speed, which was lacking when the case involved the politically connected.
Obi opined that if a passenger wanted to apologise, there would hardly be anyone to listen in a country where the pain of the poor was invisible and the dignity of the less privileged was often disregarded.
He argued that justice must be consistent if it is not to become oppression in disguise.
Obi said justice must be equal for all, and there must be compassion and rehabilitation when misconduct stems from frustration or displaced aggression.
