The recent airport fracas involving Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who shut down a terminal activities at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport after missing his flight, has drawn widespread condemnation, with critics accusing the lawmaker of displaying dangerous levels of entitlement and impunity.
A widely circulated social media post captured the prevailing public mood, stating:
“Imagine the impunity of a man who missed his flight, tried to shut down the airport, and then issued a statement blaming the airline. Now imagine what he would do with a state.”
This pointed remark, now trending across social media platforms, reflects a growing backlash from citizens angered by the disruption caused by the former Edo State Governor and current senator representing Edo North. The incident occurred Wednesday morning at the Zulu Terminal of the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), where Oshiomhole reportedly arrived late for a 6:30 a.m. Air Peace flight to Abuja. Denied access after check-in closed, the senator seen in a now viral video, blocked the terminal entrance, forcing temporary suspension of operations.
Eyewitnesses described the situation as chaotic, with passengers stranded and flights delayed. Efforts by terminal and airline staff to pacify the senator failed until the regional airport manager was called in. “He disrupted flights by shutting down the Zulu Terminal,” one airport source confirmed. “It was tense. Flights were delayed and passengers were angry.”
Air Peace later stood its ground, reiterating that check-in rules apply to all passengers, regardless of status. FAAN spokesperson Ijeoma Blessing Nwosu-Igbo distanced the authority from the incident, stating, “I don’t work for MM2, I work for FAAN. And I am not aware of this incident unless it was reported to us.”
The event has since triggered national debate about the culture of impunity among Nigeria’s political class. Civic groups and ordinary citizens alike are demanding accountability and asking hard questions, especially as the senator is a prominent figure with known political ambitions.