Following Monday’s altercation between a crew member and a passenger, Comfort Emmanson, on board the Ibom Aircraft, Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, has expressed his displeasure with the event.
On his X (previously Twitter) account, Obi described how he woke up to discover that Comfort had been permanently barred from operating Ibom Air, a condition he described as systemic.
“This morning, I woke up to learn that the passenger, the young Ms. Comfort Emmanson in her twenties, has been banned from flying for life, once again showing how our system works, proving the truth of Anacharsis’ words that “the law is like a spider’s web: it catches the weak, while the powerful break through with ease,” he wrote in his X post.
Obi further said that the elder generation is free to wander around while committing crimes and offenses that are even worse than those committed by Comfort.
Read Also: Aged, Children, Vulnerable Benefit from UBA Foundation’s Charity Outreach in Lagos
“This authoritarian decision is systemically wrong and unjust,” he stated. What due process was adhered to overnight in order to receive this sanction? Has this situation been resolved in a way that is both compassionate and just?
In Ms. Emmanson’s case, the authorities moved quickly, but the same urgency is lacking when dealing with the powerful and politically connected. It is tragically ironic that a young woman in her twenties can be banned for life while we, her parents, commit worse crimes against humanity and are celebrated. Those in positions of authority commit far more serious crimes that cause great harm to the country, but they enjoy freedom and protection from punishment.
In a nation where the suffering of the impoverished is unseen and the dignity of those who are less fortunate is frequently overlooked, who will listen to this young woman who has admitted her wrongdoing and is now attempting to apologize? “Justice needs to be consistent or it turns into covert oppression,” he remarked.
In his conclusion, Obi called for justice for all residents as well as reform.
“This has to be fixed. Everyone must receive the same level of justice. When misbehavior is the result of frustration or displaced aggressiveness, there must be space for empathy, rehabilitation, and understanding. He came to the conclusion that authority should never decide who gets punished or who gets a pardon.
