The National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Musiliu “MC Oluomo” Akinsanya, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to lift the travel ban placed on Fuji music legend Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate.
Kwam 1 was recently barred from flying for six months—both domestically and internationally—over allegations of breaching aviation safety regulations and disrupting airline operations.
According to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the incident occurred while the Fuji icon was boarding ValueJet Airlines’ Flight VK 201 from Abuja to Lagos. FAAN’s spokesperson, Obiageli Orah, alleged that Kwam 1 brought alcohol on board, a prohibited act on domestic flights, which reportedly led to an altercation with a flight attendant.
Following the incident, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Minister Keyamo sanctioned the ban, pending the conclusion of investigations.
In a statement posted on Instagram on Monday, MC Oluomo pleaded for clemency, describing Kwam 1 as remorseful and ready to make amends.
“To His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I humbly and fervently appeal for mercy and forgiveness towards Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1). Like a prodigal son, he has acknowledged his mistakes, is sincerely apologetic, and is willing to make amends,” the NURTW president wrote.
MC Oluomo urged the NCAA’s Director-General, Capt. Chris Najomo, and Minister Keyamo to “temper justice with mercy” for both K1 and ValueJet pilot Oluranti Ogoyi, who was also sanctioned in connection with the incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
He extended “unreserved and heartfelt apologies” to ValueJet CEO Kunle Soname, airline staff, the pilot, and the general public, citing Kwam 1’s decades-long contributions to Nigerian music and the global promotion of Yoruba culture.
“Let us not throw away the baby with the bathwater. Mercy and forgiveness will uphold our values of compassion and humanity,” MC Oluomo added.
(vanguard)