(DDM) – Former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, has condemned what she described as blatant inequality in the handling of two recent aviation incidents in Nigeria, highlighting deep-rooted institutional decay and injustice.
DDM gathered that Ezekwesili, in a statement on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, compared the drastically different treatment of two air passengers by aviation authorities, describing it as a clear reflection of the country’s double standards in law enforcement.
She noted that one case involved a politically connected male passenger who obstructed a taxiing aircraft, yet only received what she termed a “soft slap-on-the-wrist” in the form of a temporary flight ban, despite video evidence of his actions.
In stark contrast, Ezekwesili said, a young female passenger in another incident was “stripped naked, dragged off the plane, arrested, charged, remanded, and sent to Kirikiri Prison” within days, in what she called a disproportionate and humiliating punishment.
“This brazen double standard in law enforcement is not just unjust — it is a direct assault on the rule of law,” she declared.
Ezekwesili argued that such disparities reflect the entrenched culture of impunity within Nigeria’s political class, where those with influence and connections are shielded from full accountability, while ordinary citizens face swift and harsh penalties.
She described the ordeal of the young woman as emblematic of the daily indignities endured by millions of Nigerians, many of whom, she lamented, have been so demoralized by systemic injustice that they end up defending their oppressors.
The former minister stressed the urgent need for aviation regulators and other law enforcement bodies to uphold fairness and equality, insisting that rules must be applied uniformly to both the powerful and the powerless.
“No preferential treatment. No double standards. The answer lies in our hands, dear 99% of Nigerians,” she urged.
Ezekwesili further called for the immediate release of the detained woman and for aviation authorities to ensure similar disciplinary measures are taken in both cases.
She warned that Nigeria’s stability and credibility depend on restoring public trust through equitable enforcement of laws, free from political interference or bias.
According to observers, the incidents have sparked public debate on social media, with many Nigerians echoing Ezekwesili’s concerns and demanding reforms in how security and regulatory agencies handle cases involving citizens of differing social status.
DDM notes that Ezekwesili’s comments add to growing calls for accountability and transparency in Nigeria’s aviation sector, particularly after several recent high-profile incidents exposed what critics call “two sets of rules”, one for the elite and another for the rest of the populace.