Julius OkorieFriday, October 25, 2024 could have been like every other Friday and indeed any other day, but it wasn’t.
It had started like any other though, with clement weather, a good day to fly, pilots will say. But suddenly the heavens opened and rained cats and dogs in Lagos, the Centre of Excellence, on a day all roads were expected to lead to Eko Hotel and Suits, venue for the celebration of 10th year anniversary of Air Peace. As the rains poured in torrents, guests who had defiled the rain began to gather in front of convention Centre, venue of the event.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelLooking through the revolving glass doors of the Hotel, the dignitaries who had gathered and were following protocol will give you at least three impressions, of first political gathering, then social gathering and then mixture of both with all dressed like they say “to kill.”
African Time Is Here To Stay:
The occasion scheduled for 5pm certainly was not expected to start at 5pm with dignitaries ranging from top government functionaries to business big wigs, traditional rulers, captains of industries, media gurus etc having so many things to joggle, meeting up with such appointments is no child’s play.
The heavy downpour with its attendant traffic jam in Lagos, is enough to signal that the event surely will hold but promises to be a night event, forget the time on the invite.
Invite, Hand Band, Seat Number And More:
No big man wants to be kept waiting. In fact nobody wants to be kept waiting, especially if you have been invited officially to an occasion. But of course protocol has to be followed. It can be a pain in the neck sometimes but it is inevitable, especially in a country where insecurity cannot be said to be top notch.
When you invite ministers, governors, serving and past traditional rulers, legal luminaries etc you can’t afford to lose your guard, apologies to BBNaija season 9.
For any invited guest to get into the venue, you must be having your invitation card or letter, all of which must be crosschecked before you are given an arm band like a Captain of a football team and then let in by couple of bouncers who are friendly though, despite their rugged and dogged look.
Here Comes Very Very Important And Very Important Personalities
They arrive at occasions with panache and indeed they did not disappoint. It is already 9pm and it does appear that 5pm actually meant 5 plus 5 but it doesn’t really matter after all, today is Friday, ordinarily you should be saying TGIF (Thank God it’s Friday) time relax and unwind. So converging for Air Peace sake could be another way of enjoying the weekend to the fullest, no point looking at the time.
At occasion like this, it is perhaps better to take a count the number of dignitaries that were not able to make it due to other exigencies than to attempt to count the ones that turned up.
But how can you not notice men of timber and calibre apologies to late political big wig Dr. kingsley Mbadiwe, popularly known as K.O Mbadiwe.
The roll call of Special guests include Vice President of the federation, Kashim Shettima, represented by the Minister of Transport, Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali, former President Muhamadu Buhari, represented by Senator Adeleke Olorunimbe Mamora, First lady of Gambia, Her Excellency Mrs Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, Chairman of Coscharis Group, Dr. Cosmas Maduka CON, Chairman of Stanel Group, Stanley Uzochukwu.
The traditional rulers were not left out as the Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe, Igwe of Mbosi, where incidentally Air Peace Chairman and CEO Allen Onyeama hails from, Dr. Greg Nwokora, expectedly was present.
Which traditional ruler will not be proud of an illustrious son bringing goodwill and showcasing the name of the community to the whole world?
Also present was the ever lively Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi whose entry was greeted by all and sundry leaving no one in doubt the respect accorded the traditional institution and the cultural touch that goes with it.
Did you forget Senior Advocate and Human Rights lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, Nollywood veteran, Kanayo O. Kanayo, who was mildly confronted by one of his brothers over a recent post on social media.
In the post he had frowned at the countless road blocks in the south east road, the extortion that has become the order of the day and the bad road that adds to the injury.
He then asked via the same post whether it was a show of hatred. Why the brother he was exchanging views with was against the post could not immediately be ascertained.
Was he expecting him to keep quiet to suffer in silence like everyone else?
Anyway still on the who is who at the 10th Anniversary of Air peace were former Green and Super Eagles players, Mathematical Segun Odegbami and Austin JJ Okocha ‘who was so good they named him twice’ or did you mean to miss former Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr Reuben Abati, who has become a must watch as he and his Arise team x-ray teething issues in the country every morning. Call it a full house, and you will be right!
Reason For The Season:
Air peace which began operation 10 years ago has indeed made giant strides, little wonder many turned up to hear the success story, celebrate achievement made share experiences and project into the future.
With just seven aircraft at inception in 2014, the airline now boasts of 30 aircraft with 26 brand new ones on firm order according to the company.
READ ALSO :Air Peace Drags Creme dela Creme Of The Society To Lagos, Despite Heavy Down Pour
Partnering with Brazilian multinational aerospace corporation, manufactures aircraft and aviation systems Embraer, third largest manufacturers of civil aircraft worldwide the sky seems only the beginning Air Peace which some say has taken over the position of National career.
There are plans to further introduce state of the art E175 jet to the fleet of Air Peace in the near future to boost the comfort of the passengers and expand the airlines operation.
Hearing from Board member of the Board of Directors of Embraer Mr Francisco Moraes it is safe to say that addition of these new planes will not take long in coming because of their tested and trusted tendency to deliver once a promise has been made.
“Along with this E175 jet we are going to provide the necessary support for establishing local maintaining capability making operations more efficient and bringing value to the Nigerian Aviation Industry” he assured
Statistics And Destinations:
Aside from operating all major domestic routes in Nigeria, Air Peace operates regular flights to 17 international and regional destinations which include flights to Cameroon, Gambia Ivory Coast, Ghana, Liberia and Senegal Sierra Leone. Other international routes include Saudi Arabia, South Africa, London and Instanbul,Turkey.
Regarded as West and Central Africa’s largest airline, Air Peace, airlifted close to 60million ( 55,821,258) passengers as at December 2022 a figure which has since doubled two years after as the airline clocked 10 .
Where There Is Efficient Alternative
Most regular fliers actually fly because they need to meet scheduled appointments. At such moments they may not be concerned about national career unless of course the national career is available and ready to fly.
With the more you look the less you see scenario that trailed and still trailing national career any airline in the country effective and efficient enough to meet the need of the passengers will natural fill the vacuum.
Allen Onyeama and his Air Peace are calling the shots to a large extent in today’s aviation industry, suffice to say that the prayer point of dignitaries that graced the 10th anniversary would be that the airline grows from strength to strength and that whatever cankerworm that ate into the fabrics of the once adored Nigeria Airways, and others that have since become history, should never find its way near Air Peace and other airlines currently servicing the Nigerian air space.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
