Apology Can Fly — But Must Not Taxi Away Accountability

By Babs Daramola

The long-running controversy over the now infamous Kwam1 tarmac incident took an “unexpected” — emphasis mine — turn with an open apology from the Fuji music legend himself, Wasiu Ayinde. For those, like me, familiar with his public persona — a man rarely accused of bending in humility — the apology is both surprising and, on some level, commendable. In a country where public figures often double down in defiance, his statement is a rare acknowledgment of wrongdoing.

But let us be clear: an apology, no matter how public, is not a substitute for accountability.

Wasiu Ayinde’s breach was not a matter of bad manners or public etiquette. It was a clear and dangerous violation of aviation safety laws. The tarmac is one of the most restricted zones in any airport, governed by strict security protocols designed to protect both lives and national airspace integrity. For a civilian — no matter how famous — to obstruct aircraft movement is not just disorderly conduct; it is a criminal infraction under international and domestic aviation regulations.

The Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, deserves credit for taking a firm stance and ensuring that the regulatory authorities responded promptly to this breach. The swift placement of Kwam1 on a six-month no-fly list was a step in the right direction — but it should be seen only as a starting point, not the final word. All available evidence indicates that the musician did far more than obstruct airport operations; his actions effectively held an entire cabin of passengers hostage, delaying their journey and compromising their safety. In the unforgiving language of aviation risk assessment, this borders dangerously close to what could be termed attempted suicide, given the potential catastrophic outcomes of such interference. Little wonder, then, that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police to prosecute him. Anything less would weaken the message that Nigeria’s skies are no playground for recklessness.

The global aviation community operates on trust — trust that every country enforces its own rules without fear or favor. To let Kwam1’s apology suffice as “closure” would send precisely the wrong signal: that in Nigeria, the law bends for the politically connected and the socially powerful. This would not only diminish public faith in our institutions but also invite the ridicule of the global community, which is watching closely to see whether Nigeria is serious about protecting its skies.

Already, the fallout has been severe for Captain Oluranti Ogoyi, the pilot at the center of the confrontation. Her license has been suspended as a first step in what may be a protracted and career-damaging disciplinary process. This is a woman who, by all accounts, has spent a decade building an unblemished professional record — yet her career now bears a stain from this incident. That the celebrity passenger whose actions triggered the chain of events might escape with nothing more than a public apology would be a mockery of justice.

The offense was grave. The laws are clear. The deterrent must be just as unambiguous. Anything less than a proportionate sanction will confirm what too many Nigerians already believe — that the rich and famous live above the law while ordinary citizens face the full brunt of it. We have been here before, and each time, the institutions grow weaker, the culture of impunity stronger.

This is not just about punishing a musician. It is about asserting that Nigeria’s aviation laws are real, binding, and non-negotiable. It is about sending a message — both at home and abroad — that this nation values the rule of law over celebrity privilege. If we fail to do so, the next breach may come with consequences too tragic to contain with apologies.

An apology may soften public sentiment, but it cannot erase a breach of the law — especially in aviation, where safety is non-negotiable. To treat Kwam1’s contrition as closure would be to mistake words for justice. Apologies can fly, but they must never taxi away accountability.

Babs Daramola is a Lagos-based journalist