Patrick Doyle, the ace actor, has weighed in on the recent controversy involving Fuji music star Kwam 1 and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The controversy began on Monday after FAAN alleged that the 68-year-old musician attempted to board a ValueJet flight to Lagos with an “unidentified liquid substance,” despite warnings from aviation security (AVSEC) personnel and the flight captain.
The airport authorities also accused Kwam 1 of spilling alcohol on aviation personnel while they tried to verify the contents of a flask he insisted on carrying onboard.
Kwam 1 denied the allegations, arguing that the substance in question was “plain drinking water” served to him at the airport lounge while he awaited boarding, and “not alcohol” as claimed.
In a Facebook post, Doyle came to Kwam 1’s defense, arguing that celebrities are often deliberately provoked by service personnel harbouring grudges.
He shared a personal experience where an airline staff member in Asaba treated him with “unnecessary hostility,” despite recognising him as a public figure.
“For the most part, celebrities and famous people get preferential treatment in most public spaces. I made a trip to Accra a few days ago, and from the immigration officers at passport control to the supermarket, check out cashier I was given VIP courtesy,” he wrote.
“However, there have been a few times when I am confronted by a service personnel with a chip on his or her shoulder, who perhaps has been nursing a grudge against me and finally I am within reach for comeuppance.
“Most times, I may never have ever set eyes on the person, but he or she, for whatever reason, has it in for me. maybe for how I acted in a movie or the answer I gave in an interview.
“Next thing I know, this service personnel from hell decides to give me a tough time. Like the lady at the airline check-in counter at the Asaba airport, who bluntly refused to let me carry my hand luggage onboard because it weighed half a kilogram over the accepted limit.
“I tried to jokingly cajole her, and rather than give in, she rudely barked at me to respect myself.
“I knew she recognised me because her colleague had come to take a selfie with me while I was in the queue. I took her rebuke seriously and comported myself before she escalated the issue and cause a scene.
“Of course, I knew she was baiting me and hoping to upset me enough for me to activate the “insulted big man” mode. Then there would be a shouting match, and I would be in breach of airport protocol, and she would have bragging rights that she humiliated that “useless” Patrick Doyle.”
Doyle suggested Kwam 1 may have faced a similar situation, where airport officials provoked him until he reacted.
“Kwam 1 was baited by the airline staff, and sadly, they succeeded in riling him. I can’t say I blame him because I have been known to go ballistic during such episodes myself,” he added.
“These days, I just pray that God should keep such irritants far away from me and whenever I encounter such “blessed” people, I pray for self control and the grace not to fall into their diabolical traps.”
