[dropcap]A[/dropcap]n author and activist, Reno Omokri, seemed to have shed more light on the outcry that greeted the unveiling of the Nigerian national carrier, Nigeria Air.
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Recall that the federal government recently unveiled the controversial national carrier, Nigeria Air, less than three days before the inauguration of a new administration.
This generated sharp and divided reactions among Nigerians, including aviation industry stakeholders, who had vowed not to allow the bird in the air.
Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, faulted the launch of the project in the last day of the current administration, arguing that it was a violation of court orders on status quo ante.
AON described the unveiling of the national carrier as a last-minute disobedience of court order, an attempt to muddle the water through a phantom project, and an effort to “rubbish” the Buhari-led administration.
Meanwhile, some citizens were also against the launch, claiming that it was a fraudulent projects, but others believed the newly launched NigeriaAir is laudable and should be supported by any patriotic Nigerian.
In his own opinion, Omokri insinuated that most of those against the national carrier are only bitter because they failed to hijack the presidency.
“Virgin Atlantic was established in 1984 by Richard Branson with one aircraft. On Friday, 22 June 1984, the airline commenced operations with a flight from Gatwick Airport in the UK to Newark Airport, New Jersey, USA, using a leased Boeing 747-200 with the registration G-VIRG.
“Thirty-nine years later, Virgin Atlantic is one of the most successful airlines in the world, with an annual revenue of $3 billion and a staff strength of over ten thousand.
“So, what exactly is wrong with starting Nigeria Air with a leased plane?
“Last month, Air Peace, the darling of the people now criticising Nigeria Air, wet-leased two B737s. If wet leasing was such a bad thing, why did they not criticise Air Peace (an excellent airline, by the way)?
“You see, their quarrel is not with wet-leasing or Nigeria Air. For a lot of these individuals, their fight is with Nigeria. And that angst was further inflamed recently as they saw their hopes of stealthily seizing power at the centre evaporate
“We should not let people with a hidden agenda gaslight us into fighting our own country and think we are fighting bad politicians.
“It is the usual aviation practice for fledgling airlines to commence operations with a leased aircraft. Even corporations like banks, telecommunications companies, breweries, and power firms tend to lease vehicles rather than buy them. It is no biggie.
“And sadly, too many opposition politicians know this but are too afraid of bucking the trend and telling the truth because they are afraid that the headless mob will accuse them of wanting to join the ruling All Progressives Congress, and they are not mentally strong enough to resist the cyberbullying,” Omokri submitted.
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
