By Stephen Gbadamosi, Ibadan
Humility and contriteness are the hallmarks of noble minds, so goes the saying.
Fuji maestro, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (also known as KWAM 1 De Ultimate) today apologized for his behavior over the Valuejet plane incident in which he was accused of obstructing an aircraft from taxiing.
The Federal Government (FG) subsequently slammed a six-month blacklist on him from traveling by air within Nigeria just as the plane captain and pilot were also sanctioned.
Sparks flew when an airline staff refused him entry into the plane on the ground that a flask the musician was carrying must be examined to see if it contained alcohol -a substance which consumption is banned in aircraft,under the nation’s aviation regulations.
It was a request to which he reportedly refused, leading to an exchange of words and involvement of security personnel.
As news broke of the altercation and government’s subsequent punitive actions, KWAM 1 received significant bashing from Nigerians on social media and elsewhere with many raising concerns over the attitude of persons in the public eye amid possible dent of the country’s image.
However, the singer, alleged to be an associate of President Bola Tinubu, has now eaten humble pie even as he gave his own side to what happened last Tuesday at the airport tarmac.
In a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists, the musician said he had passed through security checks with the flask before filling it with water ahead of plane boarding.
It read: “The incident that occurred at the local wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on August 5, 2025, involving my humble self and ValueJet Airline was, to say the least, unfortunate.
“Unknown to many, I suffer from chronic dehydration, and my doctor strongly advised that I remain constantly hydrated.
“This is why I always carry a water flask with me. And contrary to the negative narrative being circulated in some quarters, the flask I carried on that particular day contained only water — not alcohol, as wrongly alleged.
“For the record, I passed through two security screenings with the flask empty. The flask was only filled with water at the lounge area, just before heading to the tarmac.
“This fact can be verified by the CCTV footage at the airport lounge.
“More so, I hadn’t even boarded the plane, let alone being deboarded.
“However, I acknowledge and deeply regret the concerns that arose from the incident. It was never my intention to cause any disruption or violate aviation protocols in any way.
“My unwavering patriotism and unshaken loyalty to the Federal Republic of Nigeria have never been in doubt. Over the years, I have consistently used my God-given talent and platform to promote the Nigerian brand across the globe.
“I would neither do anything to tarnish the image I’ve built over the past five decades, nor would I knowingly act in a way that could diminish the reputation of the country I love so dearly.
“That said, the incident is sincerely regretted. I remain committed to upholding the values and responsibilities that come with being a global ambassador of Nigerian music and culture.
“To the Presidency, Ministry of Aviation, FAAN, NCAA, ValueJet, fellow Nigerians, and my teeming fans across the world who have shown great concern since the incident happened, I tender my unreserved and heartfelt apology. Thank you,” he said.
