Editorial
Nigeriens And Kano APC Rally
Last Thursday, two governors from the Republic of Niger, Governors Issa Moussa of Zinder and Zakiri Umar of Maradi States respectively, were conspicuously present at the presidential rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano to rally support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election.
Salihu Yakasai, media aide to Kano State Governor, Umar Ganduje, revealed this on his Twitter handle beneath a photo of the governors and Ganduje.
Yakasai said, “H.E @ Gov Umar Ganduje with his deputy H.E DrNasiru Gawuna, his former Dep H.E Prof Hafiz Abubakar, Minister of Interior, Abdurrahman Dambazau and that of Water Resources, Suleiman Kazaure, Governors of Zinder and Maradi from Niger Republic, & others getting ready to receive @MBuhari #PMB in Kano.”
Yakasai further added that the two Nigerien governors were in Kano to rally support for President Buhari’s re-election.Reports also had it that the Buhari Presidency and the APC rented and smuggled in a crowd of aliens from Niger Republic to populate Mr. President’s campaign rally in Kano State.
Defending the presence of the two governors from the neighbouring Niger Republic at the presidential campaign rally held in the Kano metropolis, the Director of the Presidential Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Malam Nuhu Ribadu said the presence of the governors was in line with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocol of free movement of persons within the ECOWAS sub-region.
While The Tide acknowledges the existence of the ECOWAS protocol of free movement of persons, we hold that such a defence at this time when the nation is contending with insurgency and banditry is lame and porous. This is particularly against the backdrop of claims by President Buhari that killer herdsmen ravaging the nation are mercenaries who are infiltrating from the Sahel region.
The involvement of mercenaries from neighboring countries in the APC rally is unfashionable and condemnable.Elections are internal affairs of Nigerians, it is, therefore, absurd to see the two foreign governors in Kano to welcome the President to his own country. We view the action of the APC as an assault on the nation’s sovereignty and an attempt to morgage the future of the country.
We are saddened that President Buhari and the APC, in their desperation have compromised the nation’s territorial integrity and this no doubt, portends grave danger to national security and the sanctity of the electoral process.Even the presence of the Minister in charge of Internal Security of the nation at that campaign rally makes it more worrisome.
Beyond the promises made by the Federal Government, we are worried that the Kano incident may turn out to be a confirmation of fears often expressed by the opposition of plots by agents of the APC to use mercenaries from neighbouring countries to precipitate crisis with the aim of scuttling the 2019 general elections.
Also, bearing in mind that in 2015, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) delivered 1.9 million votes to the APC presidential candidate in circumstances devoid of transparency and credibility, there are apprehensions accentuated by INEC’s recent mass creation of additional polling units, which had not been properly designated and which may be deployed for the perpetration of monumental electoral fraud in parts of the North.
On account of this, The Tide demands urgent and thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to the presence of politicians and thugs from Niger Republic at the APC presidential rally in Kano last Thursday. Security agencies must immediately investigate and lay in the public domain the circumstances leading to their presence at the rally.
Already, there are fears that miscreants who came from Niger Republic to the Kano rally are being offered accommodation by the APC to unleash violence immediately it is clear that President Buhari is losing the presidential election.
The APC and the Buhari Presidency must immediately explain the roles being played by Issa Moussa, Governor of Zinder and his counterpart from Maradi, Zakiri Umar, both of Niger Republic, who were sighted decked in the attires of the APC in our political affairs.
We insist that no amount of desperation to win the February 16 presidential election or any other election should be predicated on the unfettered opening of the country’s international borders to foreign political interests.
We make haste to caution that under no circumstance should the nation be plunged into crisis before, during and after the forthcoming general elections.
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Addressing Unruly Behaviours At The Airports

It began as a seemingly minor in- flight disagreement. Comfort Emmason, a passenger on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos, reportedly failed to switch off her mobile phone when instructed by the cabin crew. What should have been a routine enforcement of safety regulations spiralled into a physical confrontation, sparking a national debate on the limits of airline authority and the rights of passengers.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) wasted no time in condemning the treatment meted out to Emmason. In a strongly worded statement, the body described the incident as “a flagrant violation of her fundamental human rights” and called for a thorough investigation into the conduct of the airline staff. The NBA stressed that while passengers must adhere to safety rules, such compliance should never be extracted through intimidation, violence, or humiliation.
Following the altercation, Emmason found herself arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court and remanded at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison, a location more commonly associated with hardened criminals than with errant passengers. In a surprising turn of events, the Federal Government later dropped all charges against her, citing “overriding public interest” and concerns about due process.
Compounding her woes, Ibom Air initially imposed a lifetime ban preventing her from boarding its aircraft. That ban has now been lifted, following mounting public pressure and calls from rights groups for a more measured approach. The reversal has been welcomed by many as a step towards restoring fairness and proportionality in handling such disputes.
While her refusal to comply with crew instructions was undeniably inappropriate, questions linger about whether the punishment fit the offence. Was the swift escalation from verbal reminder to physical ejection a proportionate response, or an abuse of authority? The incident has reignited debate over how airlines balance safety enforcement with respect for passenger rights.
The Tide unequivocally condemns the brutal and degrading treatment the young Nigerian woman received from the airline’s staff. No regulation, however vital, justifies the use of physical force or the public shaming of a passenger. Such behaviour is antithetical to the principles of customer service, human dignity, and the rule of law.
Emmason’s own defiance warrants reproach. Cabin crew instructions, especially during boarding or take-off preparations, are not mere suggestions; they are safety mandates. Reports suggest she may have been unable to comply because of a malfunctioning power button on her device, but even so, she could have communicated this clearly to the crew. Rules exist to safeguard everyone on board, and passengers must treat them with due seriousness.
Nigerians, whether flying domestically or abroad, would do well to internalise the importance of orderliness in public spaces. Adherence to instructions, patience in queues, and courteous engagement with officials are hallmarks of civilised society. Disregard for these norms not only undermines safety but also projects a damaging image of the nation to the wider world.
The Emmason affair is not an isolated case. Former Edo State Governor and current Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, once found himself grounded after arriving late for an Air Peace flight. Witnesses alleged that he assaulted airline staff and ordered the closure of the terminal’s main entrance. This is hardly the conduct expected of a statesman.
More recently, a Nollywood-worthy episode unfolded at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, involving Fuji icon “King”, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM1. In a viral video, he was seen exchanging heated words with officials after being prevented from boarding an aircraft.
Events took a dangerous turn when the aircraft, moving at near take-off speed, nearly clipped the 68-year-old musician’s head with its wing. Such an occurrence points to a serious breach of airport safety protocols, raising uncomfortable questions about operational discipline at Nigeria’s gateways.
According to accounts circulating online, Wasiu had attempted to board an aircraft while he was carrying an alcoholic drink and refused to relinquish it when challenged. His refusal led to de-boarding, after which the Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, imposed a six-month “no-fly” ban, citing “unacceptable” conduct.
It is deeply concerning that individuals of such prominence, including Emmason’s pilot adversary, whose careers have exposed them to some of the most disciplined aviation environments in the world, should exhibit conduct that diminishes the nation’s reputation. True leadership, whether in politics, culture, or professional life, calls for restraint and decorum, all the more when exercised under public scrutiny.
Most egregiously, in Emmason’s case, reports that she was forcibly stripped in public and filmed for online circulation are deeply disturbing. This was an act of humiliation and a gross invasion of privacy, violating her right to dignity and falling short of the standards expected in modern aviation. No person, regardless of the circumstances, should be subjected to such degrading treatment.
Ibom Air must ensure its staff are trained to treat passengers with proper decorum at all times. If Emmason had broken the law, security personnel could have been called in to handle the matter lawfully. Instead, her ordeal turned into a public spectacle. Those responsible for assaulting her should face prosecution, and the airline should be compelled to compensate her. Emmason, for her part, should pursue legal redress to reinforce the principle that justice and civility must prevail in Nigeria’s skies.