The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has accepted an offer by Mr. Nnaemeka Ikerionwu to pay the N25,000 fine imposed on the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, over an alleged violation of parking regulations at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Nigerian Newssphere recalls that Keyamo had earlier given Obi a seven-day ultimatum to publicly apologise to airport officials and settle the N25,000 fine following the alleged breach of airport parking rules.
The controversy began after Obi, during a viral podcast interview, claimed he might not survive to contest the 2027 presidential election, alleging a pattern of harassment against him and his associates.
The former Anambra State governor specifically alleged that his vehicle was clamped at the Abuja airport while other vehicles parked in the same area were left untouched.
In response, Keyamo rejected the allegation and released CCTV footage which, according to him, showed Obi’s vehicle violating the airport’s parking regulations.
The incident sparked nationwide reactions, with supporters of the NDC presidential candidate accusing the Federal Government of politically targeting Obi ahead of the January presidential election.
Amid the controversy, a letter shared on X by public affairs commentator @Onsogbu showed that Ikerionwu apologised to the minister and volunteered to pay the fine on Obi’s behalf.
Responding to the request, Keyamo approved the offer and directed the donor on how to complete the payment.
“Proceed to see the Director of Commercial and Business Development for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and he will be directed on the mode of payment of the fine for the offender,” the minister said.
Keyamo also maintained that the release of the CCTV footage had disproved Obi’s claims, urging the NDC presidential candidate to be more cautious with future allegations.
“Now that we have burst his bubble, next time, @PeterObi should think twice before making outlandish claims of being targeted at our airports or anywhere for that matter in order to get ‘sympathy votes’.
“Nigerians have become too politically savvy to fall for such cheap political gimmicks from presidential candidates that emerged from miracle centres,” Keyamo added.
