The chief protocol officer of the Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, Isa Bayero, has given the management of Air Peace 72 hours to apologize for what he termed as the airline disrespecting the monarch.
Ravenewsonline.com reports that Isa who is a nephew to the monarch, had written a petition to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, asking for punitive measures to be taken against Air Peace over its refusal to delay its scheduled Lagos-Kano flight in order to carry the monarch.
In the petition, Isa said the airline delayed their Banjul to Lagos flight by over one hour and refused to allow them board their connecting flight to Kano because they arrived Lagos 30 minutes before departure time.
He said the airline’s decision not to delay a flight for the monarch was disrespectful and unacceptable.
Air Peace however released a statement stating that it did not disrespect the monarch as claimed by Isa. The airline said it took the action to protect the Emir’s image.
However speaking to journalists on Saturday, Isa said Air Peace’s claim that it offered the Emir an alternative flight to Abuja for transiting to Kano is “pure falsehood”.
He gave the airline 72 hours to apologize to the monarch in a National daily and in person, or the palace ”would not hesitate to go extra miles to correct the misnomer”
The Cable quotes him as saying, “Since we left Banjul an hour behind schedule, the airline should know they have 10 passengers transiting to Kano and should know the right thing is to reschedule the flight because the delay we had was never our fault,” Bayero explained.
I called severally. They refused to pick but later picked and told us it was not possible.
Courtesy demands the management should make necessary arrangement for the VIP because I had called the airline while in Banjul to make provision for vehicle that would transit the emir from international wing to domestic.
That they disrespected the emir was the reason why they refused to delay the flight. It is totally wrong and unacceptable because if they truly respect the emir, they should understand the aircraft was not complete without 10 passengers, including the VIP.
For delaying us from Banjul, which caused our arriving late to Lagos, Air Peace has the moral duty to accommodate or take care of us.
Unfortunately, there was no option or offer to ease our situation, only for us to be left stranded.
It was pure falsehood for Air Peace to make that statement that they provided an alternative flight to Abuja for the emir. For that claim, I was the one that asked for Abuja flight and they said it was fully booked.
The Abuja flight was fully booked and if their aircraft to Abuja is full already, how do we get to Abuja? Now, let’s assume they had taken us to Abuja, how are we sure Kano flight was available from Abuja?”
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 misnomer. 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.”
