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The Presidency has thrown its heavy weight behind the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, over the recent controversy involving Peter Obi at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, insisting that the former Anambra State governor breached established parking regulations.

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the facts presented by the aviation minister contradicted Obi’s claim that his vehicle was deliberately targeted by authorities.

The dispute stems from an incident on July 4, 2026, when Obi alleged that officials clamped the tyres of his vehicle at the Abuja airport as part of what he described as continued persecution by the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu.

Following the allegation, Keyamo said he ordered an investigation into the matter. According to the minister, the findings showed that Obi’s vehicle was parked in violation of airport regulations and was clamped only after officials allowed sufficient time for it to be moved.

Keyamo maintained that Obi had already exited the vehicle before enforcement officers carried out the action, making it impossible for airport personnel to have identified the car as belonging to the opposition figure or singled him out for special treatment.

The minister further stated that after the police officer attached to Obi informed him that the vehicle had been clamped, the former presidential candidate secured its release without paying the prescribed penalty, despite what he described as a clear breach of airport security rules.

Reacting on his verified X account, Onanuga said the minister’s explanation had laid to rest claims that Obi was unfairly targeted.

He said, “Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo explains how Peter Obi’s car violated parking rules at the Airport, how it was clamped and how Peter Obi peddled his influence to get the car released without paying the mandatory fine. Keyamo has now decided that Peter Obi must pay the N25,000 fine for wrongful, illegal and dangerous parking.

“The Minister’s account of what happened on July 4 at Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, completely debunked Obi’s falsehood that he was unduly targeted and persecuted. The truth is that he and his police driver broke a simple parking rule at the Airport.”

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Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, says the rescue of the Oyo schoolchildren and teachers is worthy of thanksgiving.

Obi said this in a post on his verified X handle on Saturday.

He said he is greatly relieved and delighted to learn of the safe rescue of the schoolchildren who were kidnapped.

“This is worthy of thanksgiving. I sincerely thank all those whose tireless efforts made their freedom possible, especially the security personnel and everyone who worked behind the scenes.

“While we celebrate this happy outcome, we must remember that no child should ever have to endure such trauma.

“The recurring incidents of kidnapping, particularly of schoolchildren, underscore the urgent need to strengthen our security architecture and make the protection of lives and property the foremost responsibility of government.

“Our children deserve to learn in an atmosphere of safety, not fear. We must continue to work towards building a Nigeria where every child can pursue education without the threat of violence or abduction.

“I rejoice with the children, their families, their schools, and all Nigerians on this heartening development,” he wrote.

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Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has appealed to the Nigerian military and other security agencies to repeat same feat as exhibited in Oyo to rescue 79 school children in Borno.

Ndume made this demand while appearing Channels TV at the weekend, after the rescue of abducted victims from Oyo State, Senator Ndume said he had expected more details from the military about the operation but understood that some information relating to military operations and equipment could not be made public.

The senator said 42 people from Mussa in Borno South Senatorial District remain in captivity, alongside about 37 people from Lassa who were recently abducted. He added that several victims from Moushi and travellers kidnapped along the Buratai route were also yet to be rescued.

“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to the military to keep their attention on my senatorial district and help us get these people back. The parents are traumatized, especially those from Mussa because there are small children among them,” Ndume said.

According to him, those still in captivity include children, students from Lassa who were preparing for their NECO examinations, and other adults abducted in separate incidents.

Despite the security challenges, the senator expressed confidence in the capabilities of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies.

“I have confidence in the Nigerian security agencies. All they need is encouragement, training, equipment, aviation and motivation,” he said.

Ndume commended the security forces for the recent rescue operation, saying about eight suspected kidnappers were neutralized, while others were arrested, leading to the safe rescue of the abducted children.

“The children are back safely. Those responsible for the abduction lost about eight of their members during the operation, while some were captured. I believe this will provide useful intelligence on their operations and help address the security challenge,” he said.

The senator called on the military to build on the success of the operation by intensifying efforts to secure the release of the remaining captives in Mussa, Lassa, Muoshi and along the Buratai axis.