In a sharp rebuttal, the Hon. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has addressed former Aviation Minister Osita Chidoka’s opposition to the return of Emirates Airline to Nigeria. Keyamo accused Chidoka of hypocrisy and questioned his sincerity regarding national pride.
“Thank you, @osita_chidoka, for your opinion. However, to demonstrate your patriotism, sincerity, and fidelity to the touted ‘Nigerian Pride,’ the big puzzle is, why did you fail to similarly advise your boss, principal, and mentor Atiku Abubakar @atiku to immediately relocate from Dubai to Nigeria and sell off all his assets there in protest when the ban on visa and flights were announced? Hypocrisy has never been this audacious!” Keyamo posted on X.
Keyamo highlighted the irony of Chidoka’s past involvement in the PDP’s election strategy, known as the ‘Dubai Strategy,’ questioning why a purely Nigerian political project was planned in Dubai if Chidoka held such strong nationalistic views.
He defended the government’s decision to welcome Emirates back, emphasizing the importance of maintaining healthy international relationships for the benefit of Nigerians.
Keyamo pointed out that the return of Emirates, alongside Nigerian airline Air Peace resuming its route, would lead to better competition and potentially lower fares, ultimately benefiting Nigerian travelers.
“Considering the huge investments and interests of Nigerians in the UAE, should we continue to engage in ‘Bolekaja’ (motor park) diplomacy capable of hurting the interests of Nigerians?” Keyamo questioned, adding that the visa ban issue had been resolved and an announcement was imminent.
Keyamo urged Chidoka and the PDP to focus on constructive political engagement rather than resorting to “false nationalism” for political gains.
He praised the Tinubu administration’s efforts to restore and strengthen Nigeria’s relations with the UAE, emphasizing that this approach was more beneficial for Nigerians in the long run.
