By Steve Owaduge, Akure, Ondo State
The recent appointment of Fuji music legend Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, as an ambassador for airport security protocol has stirred public debate and rightly so. Coming on the heels of a serious security breach at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, this decision raises troubling questions about the integrity of our institutions and the rule of law in Nigeria.
On August 5, 2025, K1 was involved in an incident that reportedly saw him obstruct a ValueJet aircraft, spill liquid on a security officer, and walk onto the tarmac actions that clearly violated aviation safety regulations. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) initially responded with commendable firmness: a six-month no-fly ban and criminal charges. But within weeks, following public apologies and appeals from influential figures, the ban was reduced to one month and charges were dropped. Then came the appointment as an ambassador for the very rules he had broken.
This sequence of events sends a dangerous message: that fame and influence can turn consequences into accolades. It undermines public trust, discourages security personnel from enforcing rules, and reinforces Nigeria’s long-standing “big man syndrome” where the law is rigid for ordinary citizens but flexible for the rich and powerful.
Minister Festus Keyamo defended the appointment as a form of restorative justice, comparing it to community service. But the optics are unmistakable. A celebrity violated critical safety protocols and was rewarded with a public platform. This is not justice it is privilege dressed up as reform.
If Nigeria is to build a society governed by fairness and accountability, we must stop glorifying impunity. Laws must apply equally to all, regardless of status. Until we dismantle the culture of selective enforcement, the rule of law will remain a slogan, not a standard.
About the Author:
Steve Owaduge is a concerned citizen and commentator based in Akure, Ondo State. He writes on governance, public accountability, and social justice.
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