African Heritage Magazine –Abuja, August 6, 2025.
Prominent Diaspora leader, Hon. Dr. Kenneth Gbandi, has strongly condemned the conduct of popular Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as Kwam 1, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, describing the incident as a national embarrassment and a dangerous precedent for aviation security.
Responding to inquiries from African Heritage Media, Hon. Gbandi described the August 5th incident now attracting international attention as both disgraceful and a blatant violation of security protocols. “In any sane country governed by the rule of law,” Gbandi stated, “such an act, which amounts to a possible attempted hijack or a gross breach of airport protocol, would have warranted an immediate tactical response, possibly by a SWAT team storming the tarmac to secure all parties and ensure the safety of passengers and crew, instead of the frequent arrest and detention of Sowore, a renowned civil rights activist now and then.”
He further dismissed the six-month flight ban reportedly imposed on the musician as “a joke of the highest order,” considering the potential gravity of the security breach.
While condemning the incident, Hon. Gbandi commended Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN),for his professional, measured, and fair public response, particularly through his statement shared on X (formerly Twitter). “In a country where impunity often overshadows justice, it’s vital to acknowledge and encourage leadership that upholds accountability,” he noted. “Credit must be given where it is due. Thank you, Hon. Minister, for standing firm.”
However, Hon. Gbandi used the occasion to call attention to systemic failures that enabled the incident to occur in the first place. “This is not just about one celebrity’s reckless actions. Nigeria continues to operate in an environment where who you know often overrides the rule of law, merit, and professionalism. Even the pilot’s judgment, in proceeding to taxi with personnel still on the tarmac, deserves critical investigation as part of standard aviation safety protocol,” he said.
He emphasized that the situation could have been prevented entirely had airport security officials and relevant authorities acted swiftly and decisively. Their failure, he argued, casts doubt on the operational integrity of Nigeria’s airport security systems. “This is a wake-up call,” Gbandi stressed. “We cannot continue to trade national security and global reputation for celebrity privilege. Let this moment not become one of national regret but one that sparks real and lasting security reform and safety for all air travelers.”
Hon. Dr. Kenneth C. Gbandi (Former Chairman, NIDO Europe) Committee Chair, Nigerians in Diaspora Civic Forum for Change (NDCfC); Diaspora Leader, African Democratic Congress (ADC)
