Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has launched a sharp political attack against opposition figure Peter Obi, alleging that the former governor deliberately fabricated claims regarding an incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Speaking during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday evening, Keyamo dismissed Obi’s claims that he was targeted by aviation personnel because of his political stance.
“That man was lying. He lies like a fish drinking water. He lies. He lies for fun,” Keyamo declared during the interview.
Dispute over airport parking enforcement
The fallout stems from an incident at the domestic terminal of the Abuja airport, where security officials clamped the tyres of a vehicle attached to Obi.
Following the event, Obi alleged that the action formed part of a broader campaign of government harassment directed at him due to his status as an opposition leader.
Keyamo rejected this account, maintaining that an internal investigation utilising full CCTV coverage showed that the vehicle was left unattended in a drop-off zone for roughly 30 minutes in violation of airport parking regulations.
He added that security staff clamped the vehicle as part of standard procedure, without knowledge of who owned the car.
During his television appearance, Keyamo argued that it is improper for high-profile political figures to publicly attack civil servants who are simply enforcing security rules:
Keyamo criticised Obi for taking to the media to accuse airport staff of persecution without allowing the ministry room to review or verify the facts.
The minister insisted that portraying ordinary airport personnel as political agents damages morale and undermines standard security protocols.
Ultimatum and apology demand
The minister’s latest comments build on a one-week ultimatum he previously issued to Obi. Keyamo demanded that the politician tender a formal apology to the staff at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and settle a ₦25,000 traffic fine for the parking violation.
While Obi’s media team has previously rejected Keyamo’s assertions as misleading and politically motivated, the verbal sparring highlights the intensifying political rhetoric as key figures manoeuvre ahead of the 2027 election cycle.
Read Also: I didn’t contest to make Tinubu win – Peter Obi responds to Festus Keyamo
