Former President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria, Peter Esele, has strongly condemned Fuji music icon Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, over the recent incident in which he allegedly refused to comply with airport regulations.

Esele said K1’s behaviour was unbecoming of a respected musician and public figure.

Reacting to the incident, which has since gone viral, Esele described K1’s actions as a reflection of a deeper societal issue.

He emphasised that the consequences of such lawlessness extend beyond personal insults and serve as a metaphor for the larger national problem where power shields individuals from accountability.

“It is a metaphor for a nation where power exempts one from consequence,” Esele remarked, criticizing the culture of impunity prevalent in the country.

Background Of The Airport Incident

Naijaonpoint recalls that the incident, which occurred aboard ValueJet Airlines flight VK 201 from Abuja to Lagos, saw K1 De Ultimate barred from boarding after attempting to carry a flask that contained a liquid substance exceeding the permitted 100ml limit.

Despite repeated requests to comply with the airline’s security regulations, K1 allegedly refused to do so.

A viral video of the incident showed K1 standing in front of the aircraft, attempting to block it from taxiing.

According to the airline, K1’s refusal to follow the rules escalated when he allegedly opened the flask and poured its contents on Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and other passengers nearby.

Esele Blasts Selective Enforcement of Laws

In his response, Esele took aim at the culture of selective law enforcement in Nigeria, saying, “Aviation laws are clear; liquids over 100ml are prohibited unless medically necessary and declared. Yet enforcement bends to influence.”

He likened this selective justice to broader societal trends, noting the disregard for laws that apply to ordinary citizens.

“From government officials using sirens to bully their way through traffic to reckless drivers ignoring zebra crossings, the culture of impunity is top-down,” he added.

Esele criticised the lack of accountability, asking, “Is this the legacy we want to leave? Should apologies replace justice? What happens when laws only apply to the powerless?”

The activist urged Nigerians to demand better and to rebuild the nation’s civic education.

“We must rebuild civic education, empower institutions to act without fear or favour, and insist that the law protect everyone equally,” he said.

He also stressed the importance of respect for rules and laws, stating that a functioning society must hold individuals, regardless of status, accountable for their actions.

Meanwhile, in response to the incident that Esele reacted to, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has imposed an indefinite travel ban on K1, which will remain in effect until investigations into the flight incident are concluded.

Naijaonpoint reports that on August 7, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, directed the NCAA to place K1 on a no-fly list for six months, pending the outcome of the full investigation.

Esele, however, has expressed disbelief over the lack of swift legal consequences for K1’s actions, contrasting the situation with how a regular citizen would have been treated.

“In a functioning society, this behaviour would trigger swift legal consequences. In ours, it prompted a tepid apology, likely because cameras were rolling,” he remarked, suggesting that without the public attention, K1 would have likely faced no consequences.