In what is seen as altruistic feat to Nigerians, the House of Representatives Wednesday suspended protocol to receive Mr. Allen Onyema, the chairman of Air Peace Airlines into the Hallowed Chambers of the house for an address.
This was as the House had on Tuesday recommended Onyema to Federal Government for National Honours Award and made Air Peace an official airline for all its members.
Air Peace Airlines successfully evacuated the first batch of willing Nigerians from Johannesburg, South Africa Wednesday last week following the xenophobic attacks on foreigners.
A total of 312 Nigerians fleeing the vicious attacks in South Africa arrived the country some hours ago, courtesy of Onyema’s Air Peace.
The House made the call after admitting him into the Chamber at 11:30am, a rare privilege traditionally reserved by Parliament for high profile and eminent persons.
This came on a day Nigeria’s Consul-General in Johannesburg, South Africa, Mr Godwin Adama, dismissed insinuations that Nigerian Consulate officials were collecting 500 rand to process Nigerian passengers on Air Peace flight.
Speaker of the Green Chamber, Femi Gbajabiamila, who made the call on behalf of the House, showered encomiums on Mr. Onyema.
“Hardly do we admit people other than members into the chambers of the House of Representatives, but in recognition of his efforts, regarding the humanity of our brothers and sisters in South Africa, we moved yesterday to admit our brother, Oscar Allen Onyema, into the chambers.
“Onyema is a businessman like every other businessman, but has deployed at no cost his planes to bring back our brothers and sisters who have faced imminent danger in South Africa.
”For these patriotic efforts, we recommend him to the federal government for higher honours. On behalf of the people’s House, I commend you for your commitment and patriotism and I call on all other Nigerians to emulate this selfless gesture you have exhibited,” Gbajabiamila said, amid loud applause from members.
At 11: 45 am, the speaker beckoned on Onyema to mount the podium and address the House.
Decked in coffee-brown kaftan, with a red traditional cap and red pocket square to match, Onyema drew intermittent applause, as he appreciated the House for the honour done him and called for the unity of all ethnic groups in the country.
“You have drawn tears to my eyes again; I have never been so honoured in my life. Even if I had not been invited to the Chambers today, I would have still been honoured by your earlier calls.
”I know the business implication of what I have done, but I don’t give a damn, as long as my compatriots are saved. I have not been given a dime for my efforts, but I’m satisfied to have done what I did,” he said.
Onyema called on Nigerians to use the occasion to foster the unity of “all ethnic groups in Nigeria, be they Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Tiv, Igalla or Fulani.”
Noting that his efforts had brought great recognition to Nigeria, the Air Peace boss said: “The evacuation couldn’t have been possible without efforts of the Nigerian Mission in South Africa.”
He also told the House that “xenophobia will die a natural death soon in South Africa, because of the evacuation.”
Continuing, he said: “As I speak to you, 319 have touched down, and more will come.”
He called on the Federal Government to look into the losses of Nigerians, who were victims of attacks in South Africa, promising that Air Peace was ready to evacuate Nigerians from the Rainbow country down to the last man.
“We’re ready to evacuate every Nigerian in South Africa who is ready to be evacuated,” he said.
The speaker had entered the chamber at 11: 22, as plenary began at 11:28 a.m. Petitions were taken and summarily referred to the House Committee on Public Petitions, before he announced that the House was adjusting the order of the day, to welcome a special visitor.
Leader of the House, Ado Doguwa (APC-Kano), followed with a motion to admit MD of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, with the Deputy Leader of the House, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, seconding.
Doguwa said: “This is an idea that came up straight from the speaker’s head. And by this singular idea, other Nigerians will be encouraged to put up acts of statesmanship. What we have done today, is giving honour to whom honour is due. Onyema saved Nigeria from global embarrassment.”
Minority Leader of the House, Ndudi Godwin Elumelu (PDP-Delta) in response, said the efforts of Air Peace brought honour to Nigeria.
“On behalf of members of the opposition, I say thank you and I’m proud to say that I’m an Igbo man and a Nigerian,” he said.
He regretted that the Igbo image had been battered across the world, but noted that with Onyema’s efforts, the image of the group had been redeemed.
The House closed with a motion by Abdulrazaq Namdas (Adamawa/APC) calling on the House to adopt Air Peace as “favourite” airline of members, saying the speaker will officially convey a letter of commendation to Mr. Onyema and send another to the President to endow the CEO of Air Peace with national honours.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Consul-General in Johannesburg, South Africa, Mr Godwin Adama, , has dismissed information that Nigerian Consulate officials were collecting 500 rand to process evacuees on Air Peace flight back home.
Adama spoke in a telephone interview with Vanguard Wednesday, against the background of a video which alleged that officials collected bribe from returnees on Air Peace flight to be airlifted.
He described the information as misleading, saying it was a ploy by some people to frustrate the evacuation process.
Adama said: “The missions work with Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa. The same people sent notice to Nigerians from across the provinces to pack their luggage and go the consulate to travel the same day.
“This created serious logistics challenges and I had to accommodate all the women with children. Everything has gone on well so far, despite attempts by this group of discredited individuals.”
President of Nigeria Citizens Association, NICASA, South Africa, Ben Okoli, also corroborated the consul-general’s claim, stressing that the report was untrue.
According to him, the information is coming from mischief makers who do not want to see anything good from Nigerians.
“These crop of diplomats that are working in the Consulate are just great and are the best we have ever seen. There is nothing like money being collected by anyone, not NICASA, not even the Consulate.
“These services were rendered free of charge, no one has ever said anyone collected money from him. So, I am unhappy with this fake news that people are just circulating. It is a lie. We are discountenancing the lie and it is unacceptable.”
He the second batch of Nigerian returnees left South African at noon and should be expected to arrive Nigeria between 6 and 7 p.m.
He noted that everybody cleared for evacuation left South Africa with the flight, adding that none was left behind.
