Coalition Of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, has applauded Chief Allen Onyema, the CEO of Air Peace Airline, for an act which can be described as patriotism and selfless service to humanity.
ABACITYBLOG reported that Onyema had sent his aircraft to evacuate Nigerians living in South Africa for safety over xenophobic attacks ridden the country.
Onyeama, while addressing the newsmen after he received the South African returnees in Lagos, revealed that he spent N280 Million of naira to evacuate 187 Nigerians returned from South Africa over xenophobic attacks, a deed he tagged as freewill.
“I put together over N280 million in other to bring these people back, Air Peace decided to bring them free of charge, nobody paid us a dime, we decided to do it free of charge for our country and for our people,” Onyeama told newsmen.
Applauding the Air Peace boss, COSEYL described Onyema as a brothers keeper, Humanitarian and a Patriotic Nigerian.
“We adulate the chairman/CEO. Of Air Peace Airline, Chief Allen Onyema for his patriotism and selfless service of willingly donating his business aircraft to help return home Nigerians from South Africa in the wake of the deadly xenophobic attacks that swept across parts of South Africa recently which led to loss of lives and properties”, says a press statement signed by its President General, Chief Goodluck Egwu Ibem.
According to the group, “The humanitarian service of Chief Allen Onyema to help bring back Nigerians who were attacked in South Africa is indeed commendable. We say kudos to him for doing what the Federal government is supposed to do for its citizens.
“This good gesture of patriotism and selfless service of Mr Onyema have set a bench-mark in Nigerian history and the aviation sector. This Epoch-making gesture is first of its kind in the annals of Nigerian history.
“The benevolent gesture of Air Peace has placed it as a unifying and bonding factor in a country beset with ethno-religious and political divisions.
“It is worthy to note that , Mr. Onyema personal took part in the evacuation of Nigerians from the apartheid country. He was on ground to receive and welcome the returnees personally at the airport when they arrive Nigeria.
“The Patriotism of our brother has shown that Nigerians can be his brothers keeper in time of need. It takes a man with a large heart to be able to do what Mr. Onyema has just done to alleviate the suffering of our fellow Nigerians who lost everything they had to the xenophobic attacks.
“The quick response of returning they displaced Nigerians from the apartheid country has brought respect and honor to the Nigerian government and it’s people before the international community.
“We are delighted to note that our brother Mr. Onyema deployed one of his best Aircraft; a Boeing 777 for this great act of sacrifice and patriotism for our dear nation . This must have cost him a great fortune.
“Today, Air peace has placed Nigeria in enviable place in the comity of big players in the global aviation and international aviation world map. Air peace has become Nigeria’s eyes on international airport routes. The airline has strategically filled a national Airways.
“We urge other patriotic Nigerians to emulate Mr. Onyema to assist fellow Nigerians who lost all their properties to the xenophobic attack. Our brothers and sisters need our help in this trying times.
“We call on Nigerians to reciprocate the good gestures of Air peace Airline by patronizing them in their domestic and international travels. This will encourage them to render more selfless service to the country.
“The government on it’s path should provide enabling environment and the needed infrastructures for private investors in the aviation sectors to strife. They should open up more international route expansion purview for Air peace. London route and other international route should be open up for Air peace as a means of appreciating his selfless service and act of patriotism.
