Jeff Amechi Agbodo, Onitsha
The leaders and people of Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State have described the chairman of Air Peace, Chief Allen Onyema, as one of the greatest ambassadors of the state and community.
Onyema, who hails from Ihiala, is the only commercial airline operator from the South-East, with some 40 aircraft in its fleet, the Ihiala leaders said.
In a letter to Chief Onyema made available to Daily Sun and signed by the member representing the Ihiala federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Barrister Ifeanyi Momah; the member representing Ihiala 1 in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Barrister Chidi Udemmadu; the Transition Chairman of the LGA, Barrister Greg Okafor; and the Chairman of the Anambra South Senatorial Council of Traditional Rulers, Igwe Emmanuel Nnabuife, who is also the traditional ruler of Isseke in Ihiala LGA, the leaders observed that Chief Onyema’s commitment to a life of public good had brought much goodwill and honour to the people of his local government area.
They went on to urge the Federal Government to make Air Peace the Nigerian flag carrier.
The statement reads:
“We would like to use this opportunity to ally ourselves with the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, who has been calling on the Federal government to make Air Peace the Nigerian national flag carrier. With some 40 aircraft in only five years, the airline has earned its place in history.
“The large number of Nigerians whose lives he touches daily pray for not just him but also his people,” they declared.
“We note in particular the lifting of 187 Nigerians and more who were stranded in South Africa in the face of renewed xenophobic siege, free of charge last Wednesday night.
“It is, therefore, with immense joy that we congratulate our outstanding son, the founder and chairman of Nigeria’s biggest airline, Air Peace, Chief Allen Onyema, for selflessly undertaking the unprecedented patriotic duty of bringing back free-of-charge Nigerians facing death in South Africa.
“His love for humanity stands him out as an uncommon Nigerian leader and patriot. He is without question a far-sighted entrepreneur Nigerian who has over the years been working quietly to assist all kinds of people, particularly the needy.”
They recalled that it was in recognition of Onyema’s “profound commitment to the common good that all ten towns in our local government came together four years ago to bestow on Chief Onyema the prestigious title of Ide (Pillar) of Ihiala LGA.
“He has more than lived up to the billing ever since, as he trains thousands of our people in schools in Nigeria and abroad, employs our people in massive numbers, sets up businesses for them and pays medical bills of a good number and assists some to build houses.
“In spite of his wealth which he uses generously for the benefit of people without regard to gender, language, religion or ethnicity, Chief Onyema, a successful lawyer in his own right, remains humble and easily approachable.
“He socialises with the mighty and the downtrodden, dining with the poor and dancing with villagers at local meetings. He participates actively in local functions where he frequently admonishes the young never to give up despite the vicissitudes of life.
“It is common to see our dear Ide at the airports personally attending to customers, selling tickets to them and carrying their luggage. Even on the aircraft, he often stays quietly in the economy class. We asked other wealthy Nigerians to learn the virtues of solidarity and selflessness from the Air Peace chairman,” the kinsmen stated.