PRESS STATEMENT BY RESPECT NIGERIANS COALITION (RNC) ON THE EXPIRATION OF ULTIMATUM GIVEN TO BRITISH AIRWAYS
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, we are issuing this Statement on behalf of Respect Nigerians Coalition (RNC), a coalition of organizations and persons championing the campaign against British Airways’ discriminatory and indecorous treatment of its Nigerian customers. You all know that on Thursday, 27 March 2008, British Airways officials and the police subjected Mr Ayodeji Omotade to degrading treatment and went further to eject the other 135 passengers (overwhelmingly Nigerians) from BA075 flight bound for Lagos Nigeria from London Heathrow Airport. Of course, we are acutely aware that without your unstinting support, this story would have been swept under the carpet. That is why today, we are once again calling on you to help deepen international consciousness about the campaign.
On Tuesday, April 15 2008, we made five specific demands on British Airways over this issue and asked that they address these before Wednesday, April 30, 2008. We asked British Airways to:
- tender a clear and well-worded apology to all passengers affected by their discriminatory and intimidatory conduct aboard flight BA075 on 27 March, 2008 in a Nigerian national newspaper;
- tender a clear and well-worded written apology and appropriate compensation to Mr Ayodeji Omotade for financial and emotional losses suffered as a result of the conduct of British Airways and its agents on the day;
- withdraw all adverse statements made to the police about Mr. Ayodeji Omotade over this incident;
- lift the ban imposed on Mr Ayodeji Omotade, even as he would still retain his right to decide whether or not to fly British Airways in the future, and
- issue an undertaking that British Airways shall improve its customer care culture and desist from such practices that give the impression that the airline is arrogant, uncaring and discriminatory.
So far, British Airways has failed to do any of the above or give any indication of its intention to do any of the above. The terrible statements its faceless officials have been making in the press over this issue, both in the United Kingdom and Nigeria, attest to the unwillingness of those who run the airline to see reason. In the face of British Airways’ stonewalling, it is therefore our intention to now inform you of our next line of action.
We members of the Respect Nigeria Coalition (RNC) have resolved to officially commence the worldwide boycott of British Airways goods and services as from Thursday, 15 May, 2008. We are calling on every Nigerian and friends of Nigeria, every person who loves justice and fairness and every person who has a social conscience to vote against British Airways with the power of their purse. We are calling on people to educate British Airways on the virtues of good corporate citizenship. Nigerians and friends of Nigeria all over the world will continue to sign the Petition/Protest Letter posted on our two websites – www.nigeriavillagesquare and www.respectnigerians.com as long as the protest continues.
We recognize the concern showed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and the Nigerian Federal Government over this issue. We are aware that discussions are ongoing between agents of the Federal Government and British Airways, the details of which are unknown to us at this time. But we are not waiting for the Federal Government to teach British Airways that the customer is king. They will find that out as they continue to test our resolve, because we are absolutely determined to prove that it’s possible for people’s power to trounce corporate tyranny.
Finally, you, members of the press, are the most important pillars of support we have throughout this struggle. It is you that put our issue on the front-burner of national and international discourse. Your reports have roused the consciousness of the British and international public and we know that the endless stream of messages of support we are receiving and the thousands of signatories supporting our protest have been largely due to the publicity and support you have given our campaign from the beginning.
Please, stand solidly with us, for the man dies in him who keeps silent in the face of tyranny of any sort.
Thank you for your support, care and attention.
Signed:
Kennedy Emetulu
Michael Egbejumi-David
Tosin Awotesu.
(For and on behalf of Respect Nigerians Coalition)
I think this is a right step in a right direction. BA claims that Omotade arrest was a police case, yet the BA banned him, previously for life, but now for 6 months, perhaps BA is feeling the heat already. In my own little contribution to this struggle, I have canceled my membership of the BA Executive Club and all my official bookings with BA. A BA public relations official contacted me via email when I canceled my family bookings slated for August 2008 which would have fetched them about £6,759 in total including flights to Lagos, Alberta, Rome and Melbourne. I replied by simply forward the article from The Independent and a a copy of the online petition where I indicated my support in bold.
I am in total support of this boycott; but wait a minute.I think the problem is not BA we Nigerians are the problem. I know some Nigerians will never fly any other Airline expect BA and why you may ask; just to feel among and brag. If we are a really serious people and want the world to start taking us serious then, they have to first of all look inwards and talk to our selves. This very case have being on for some weeks now and BA have not reported any drop in patronage on the London-Lagos route and our government-just looking; really doing nothing. So who cares? Of course, nobody! BA will never try such with some nationals even in Africa and we all know this simply because they resolute people. Another example is the British higher education where most funding comes form Nigerians paying as high as in the range of £10,000-£18,000.00 as fees. Yet what do we get in return you may ask. We have to first of all go back to the drawing board and redefine our values before we can be taken serious. It’s a pity, but that’s the truth; we are not a serious people.
Me and my friends, all Nigerians, are interested to join the boycott but please can we know the details of the problem between Omotade and BA. No hint of what actually transpired is in the statement calling for boycott. Perhaps the story has been published somewhere, but forgive me I have just got to know about it now.
WE MUST INCLUDE THE NIGERIAN AIR TRANSPORT WORKERS ASSOCIATION, TO STOP WORKING ON THERE AIRCRAFTS, OR PROVIDING GROUND HANDLING SERVICES, TO BE EFFECTIVE, THE ASSOCIATION DOES NOT NEED TO BE DIPLOMATIC LIKE GOVT OR NCAA
ALL EFFORT MUST BE MADE TO CONTACT AND INCLUDE THEIR LEADERSHIP INCLUDING LABOUR GROUPS, BY THIS WE ARE EMPOWERING THE PEOPLE AND SENDING A MESSAGE TO THE GOVT AND ALL PEOPLE WHO HAVE BROUGHT US THIS LOW, AFTER THIS, IT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN I ASSURE YOU LET US BE CONCLUSIVE, SOME NIGERIAN WOULD NOT BOYCOTT, SINCE THEY HAVE STOLEN MONEY IN THE UK, LET THEM KNOW IT IS ARE MONEY, AND WE THE MASSES ARE GOING TO ASSUME CONTROL OF THINGS IF THEY GO SO FAR. MAY WE SUCCEED.
Pls read, you need to know what happens in the Galley with the cabin crews before you are served in the cabins what ever you might think you are being given
‘A world of casual racism’ exposed at BA
Senior BA pilot exposes shocking cockpit culture of Britain’s flag carrier
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Change font size: A | A | ABy Andy McSmith
Saturday, 26 April 2008
A senior British Airways pilot reveals today the startling levels of casual racism in the flagship UK company, which once famously claimed to be “the world’s favourite airline”.
Captain Doug Maughan, who has 28 years’ flying experience, including 15 years with BA, says that derogatory remarks about race by his colleagues are so common they are treated as normal.
Mr Maughan, a serving pilot who captains BA aircraft to all parts of the world, has decided to go public with his complaints after struggling to persuade BA’s management to take racism among its senior staff seriously. He has complained by email to BA’s chief executive, Willie Walsh, but says no action was taken.
His allegations are an acute embarrassment for the airline which carries 36 million passengers a year; operates out of airports in every continent; and could plausibly claim to be one of Britain’s most high-profile companies. The airline is already threatened with a boycott by Nigerians flying to and from the UK.
Mr Maughan alleges that racism is a “generational” problem – common among middle-aged pilots, but rare among younger pilots.
He lodged his first complaint after hearing a senior training captain use the word “coon” during a training session on a flight simulator – but says that no action was taken.
“There was the time when we set off for Los Angeles with a large party of Saudis on board, who had joined us at Heathrow direct from the VIP lounge,” he added. “In the cruise, my captain suddenly embarked on an extraordinary rant about ‘rag-heads’. He got the word out twice before I stopped him by explaining he was going to be short of a first officer for the return sector if he carried on.”
Mr Maughan, who lives in Dunblane, Perthshire, was on another flight when a fellow flight officer complained that there were too many Asians in Britain. “The captain turned to me and said: ‘I don’t suppose there are many of them up your way.’ I replied: ‘Well, there’s my wife.’ After that, they had the decency to fall silent,” he said.
He has also complained about abusive emails sent to him by a fellow pilot, who is English. One of the emails said: “Come separation, will all Jocks F. off to that Welfare State (paid for by English middle classes)??? Please say yes.”
Mr Maughan, 53, is so exasperated by what he sees as BA management’s refusal to tackle the problem that he is planning a protest at this year’s annual shareholders’ meeting. “It’s what I’d call a canteen culture,” he said. “It seems to be accepted that people are going to make racist remarks and get away with it. The phrase ‘institutional racism’ has been so over-used as to be almost worthless, but I have to say that racism is as prevalent now in BA as it was in the RAF 25 years ago.
“What is common among white flying crew in BA is the use of mildly derogatory, sometimes jokey, language about other races, mainly aimed at black and Asian groups. Because it’s so common, it’s hard to tackle: it’s … the norm and rarely even noticed.”
BA said: “All British Airways employees must adhere to our policies concerning dignity at work. Under these policies we encourage employees to report incidences of racism, sexism or any other behaviour that they deem offensive or inappropriate. Any reports of such behaviour are taken extremely seriously and investigated as a matter of priority. Captain Maughan has a duty as an employee to provide details of any alleged inappropriate behaviour direct to the airline.”
Mr Maughan’s revelations come as BA’s treatment of Nigerian passengers threatens to have diplomatic repercussions. Robert Dewar, the British high commissioner to Nigeria, has been summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be warned that Nigeria expects its citizens to be treated with “dignity”. And a meeting between BA representatives and the director general of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Harold Demuren, broke up when Dr Demuren objected that BA had slighted him by sending junior managers.
Nigeria’s President, Umaru Yar’Adua, has ordered an investigation into an incident at Heathrow in which 136 passengers were turned off a BA flight to Lagos. It developed as immigration officers and BA staff were trying to force a man who was being deported to stay on board against his will. The deportee, Augustine Eme, is a member of Massob, a banned organisation in Nigeria campaigning for independence for the region of Biafra.
A fellow passenger, Ayodeji Omotade, from Chatham, objected to Mr Eme’s treatment and was arrested. Mr Omotade’s arrest triggered more protests, until the BA captain ordered every passenger in economy class off the plane. BA has defended the decision to empty the aircraft saying that it was legally obliged to carry passengers such as Mr Eme. It said a large number of passengers on flight BA75 on 27 March became disruptive; that it was not possible to pinpoint which ones were involved; and that the police and crew agreed it could pose a safety risk to allow them to stay on board.
BA’s other troubles
*TERMINAL 5
BA’s biggest disaster in recent years was the botched opening of Heathrow Terminal 5 on 27 March. More than 500 flights were cancelled after a hi-tech baggage handlinge system malfunctioned. The fiasco cost the airline £16m, and, combined with rising oil prices, caused its share price to fall to its lowest level in four years. Chief executive Willie Walsh resisted calls for his resignation.
*Gate Gourmet
In August 2005, the catering firm Gate Gourmet, which wanted redundancies among its full-time staff, brought in 130 temporary staff to handle the holiday workload. The firm’s 600 staff went out on unofficial strike, and were sacked. About 1,000 BA staff walked out in sympathy.As a result, 900 flights were grounded and BA lost £45m.
*The crucifix
BA was threatened with a boycott by protesting Christians, after Nadia Eweida, a check-in worker, was suspended for refusing to remove her crucifix at work.
WE MUST INCLUDE THE NIGERIAN AIR TRANSPORT WORKERS ASSOCIATION, TO STOP WORKING ON THERE AIRCRAFTS, OR PROVIDING GROUND HANDLING SERVICES, TO BE EFFECTIVE, THE ASSOCIATION DOES NOT NEED TO BE DIPLOMATIC LIKE GOVT OR NCAA
ALL EFFORT MUST BE MADE TO CONTACT AND INCLUDE THEIR LEADERSHIP INCLUDING LABOUR GROUPS, BY THIS WE ARE EMPOWERING THE PEOPLE AND SENDING A MESSAGE TO THE GOVT AND ALL PEOPLE WHO HAVE BROUGHT US THIS LOW, AFTER THIS, IT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN I ASSURE YOU LET US BE CONCLUSIVE, SOME NIGERIAN WOULD NOT BOYCOTT, SINCE THEY HAVE STOLEN MONEY IN THE UK, LET THEM KNOW IT IS ARE MONEY, AND WE THE MASSES ARE GOING TO ASSUME CONTROL OF THINGS IF THEY GO SO FAR. MAY WE SUCCEED.
I wholeheartedly and unconditionally welcome this positive development- a move to rescue our dignity or what’s left of it from the hands of BA and all the other colonial vestiges of repression still standing. It is inconceivable that an airline that generates the bulk of its revenue from the lucrative Nigeria-London route would turn around to treat customers with so much indignity.where lies the mantra that the customer is king? Or has BA gone absolutely dotty that they cannot respect the first and simple rule in business? I really do not blame them. I blame it on the incompetent dilly-dallying of the people we call our leaders who spend more of their time looting than attending to the very issues that belie our existence as a nation. It is about time we stood up to these clowns and said “no more”!. I think the boycott should extend beyond the 15th of May. BA must be brought down to its knees and made to publicly apologize fisrt to Mr Omotade and to all Nigerians who have been humiliated and ridiculed by that act of indiscretion or what I’d call outright stupidity.
It worked in America with the Montgomery bus boycott taking the insistence of one woman, Rosa Parks not to succumb to intimidation and the collective will of a people to resist the affront on their humanity.That is why America is where it is today. It can also happen in Nigeria. I think the problem with us as a nation is that we are rather timid and lack the backbone to resist inhuman treatment.
The boycott should hold at the very least for six months. And I’d like to say for good measure that it’s a shame on the Nigerian High Commission and its minions who cannot even defend the reasons they get paid every month.They should all come home on the very next available flight and no, not on BA!
Here’s to you BA- I think you are one of the biggest brand failures of the century. A snooty-nosed company never gets anywhere. Customers will remember the indignity long after this incident is forgotten and the millions you’d be spending on image revamping will just join every other trash in the bin of your appalling customer service history.
I hope this also serves as a warning to our thieving leaders that its about time they got their act together. We would not be so ill-treated if we had not squandered our collective patrimony importing everything instaed of tasking ourselves on building a great nation.Nigerians certainly deserve a better deal.Let’s deal with this act of disrespect now!
i really support the boycott with everything in me mind body and soul. for sometime now not just British airways but the country as a whole has been taking us for a ride. i started two blog site solely to let the world know, little did i know that there are Nigerian who are thinking along the same line. therefore let us join hands and stop this neo colonialism. Nigeria is our country and we must do our best to make it great.
Pls can you give me details of what really happen to Mr Ayo Omatade.
Thanks
I watched the discussion on BEN TV today (14/05/08) and could not but feel sorry for Mr. Omotade. Well, I wholeheartedly support the boycott. What has the Nigerian High Commission in UK done about this? How can we stop all this degrading behaviour. I agree with others that people only fly BA because they thought it is class you are flying BA. BA fly to Nigeria 7 day a week. Let all come together do a massice campaign or protest to STOP this misnomer.
The Nigeria Government should ban all BA flights coming into Nigeria until they meet the 5 demands of the Respect Coalition.
GOD BLESS NIGERIA.
I am in support that BA should be boycotted, to be honest I have heard a lot of similar stories about this airline, and as for me, my family and friends we shall not be flying BA anywhere in the world………….Until we get an open apology…………………..
hello!
did you know that the same thing happened in Belgium with SN airlines with a Cameroonian passenger? how can we let ourselves be treated this way? we are doing a special radio show saturday the 17th May from 3-4pm (london time), you can join the discussion via http://www.voiceofafricaradio.com or if you live in London, 94.3fm. God bless you!
Good character is not formed in a week or a month. It is created little by little, day by day. Protracted and patient effort is needed to develop good character.
Heraclitus
I am happy at this development. I am less bothered about the rhetorics of the incident. What is important in this scenario is that some Nigerians have been abused and denigrated by a foreign institution, we must punish the abusers, whoever they are, be it Britsih airways or British Roadway.
I believe the boycott is a good whip… i will come up with further suggestions very soon. Injustice to one Nigerian is injustice to all Nigerians. Any Nigerian boarding the BA from the 15th of may 2008 is a traitor and should be treated as such.
If we are committed to the struggle, BA will soon know what is befalled them.
No room for arrogant people in our country.
Long live the people of Nigeria
Further to the struggle to protect the self-dignity of fellow Nigerians who suffered an unwarranted racial abuse in the hand of BA, i will profer the below measures to support and win the struggle because this is one great opportunity for Nigerians to say NO TO INSTITUTIONAL RACISM
1. The 136 Nigerian passengers who were in the ill-fated BA flight must bring an action against BA in a competent Court for racial discimination and abuse of human dignity. They should ask for at least 100 million pounds in damages. I am sure if this action is brought in Britain where the tort was committed, we will be sure to get a fair and speedy judgement. Pardon me, i sincerely believe that British Justice system is the fairest in the world.
2. All Nigerians at home and in Diaspora must petition Umaru Yardua, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to please relieve the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom of his duty. The High Commissioner does not know his job. Where was the HC when omotade was been arrested by the Metropolitan police. Did he not know that it was his responsibility to investigate and liaise with the British Government over the unlawful arrest of Omotade. And what is he doing to ensure that Omotade’s arrest is declared an illegality. All he can do is to sit in the cosy confine of our Embassy, smiling sheepishly and drinking Tetley. The High Commsiioner must resign. He is worst than British Airways. He has turned his back on the very people he is been paid to protect. HE MUST GO
3. Finally, we should understand that BA is a litmus test of our faith to be committed to a winnable struggle. If we can bring BA to her kneel to understand that the Consumer is the KIng, i can assure you that we will be sending a strong message to all other airlines with discriminatory attitude to Nigerians to BEWARE
Long live the good people of Nigeria.
If we as a nation can not stand or protest against the British airways attitude towards africans expecially (Nigerians). This issue must be an influence or previlage to other african.Let the BA management understand this fact that we are paying for their service and even more expensieve than other such journeys, therfore we must be treated as a customer but not a slave and customer relationship must be better than before.
This is a challange and a slap to our nation if noting is done towards this issue.Lets come together and act globally. This can not be taken if they were in our shoes therfore we must no encourage such.
lets support our country as a good citizen of Nigeria, before it comes back to you.
Note we never can tell!!! it may be your turn if notting done to this issue.
God help Us
Regards
It’s about time that we make these Britsh people realise that we are not second class humans. when they come to Nigeria we give them more respect than we even give our own people. I don’t know what their problem is but i belive this is the last straw that has broken the camel’s back. We can do without BA, this will teach them a lesson.
Pls we need to still make contact and have on board the airport and aviaition workers association, we would have stood by them if they too have had a racial problem, they are not goverment and do not need diplomacy, pls anybody with the associations e-mail, also what is labour doing about this issue it affects working Nigerians
I agree that we follow this case until our demands are met or else this ugly incident will reocur in the near future.I cannot believe that they make money out of us and yet we are taken for granted.For crying out loud,these nigerians bought their tickets,it was not a free flight.They should be apologized to; period.
I hate all sorts of racism and will give my life to fight for justice.I feel sorry for Mr Omotade been arrested.Why he got involved was probably he saw the police using excessive force on Mr.Eme,otherwise he would know that no deportee ever get on the plane easily,without police actions. It is not done to interfere with the Police when discharging their duty.It does not matter who you are the normal thing is you will be arrested,if you interfere when police whilst discharging their duty/duties. If we keep on attacking the British Police we will soon loose the enjoyment of rule of law which they have here. The result is most likely to be the Police will be weakened to arrest any black person for fear of being accused of racism.It is already happening in London where a lot of hideous crimes are going on and police is worried about public opinions in making arrests. It is our duty as a race or Nigerians to watch our actions for we are been judged everyday because of a lot of killings and other crimes predominant in black societies.Also the Captain of the aircraft would have been frightened to fly a plane if there were commotions ,tensions/or people hysterical on the plane. We were not told if the captain or the BA staff had a word with the passengers to keep quiet so the plane could take off. I know there are alot of racism around British Police or Airlines etc,but this case is not very strong to make us have the respect we deserve. I am sure a lot of our people and antiracists will help and support us if the case is different.A lot of our people still fly British Airways not because they are traitors,but because they dont experience any better airlines from London to Nigeria .I think what we need to do as a nation is to be brave enough to confront our leaders and ask them to supply us with good transports at home and to go abroad.We seem to forget that it is not only the British racists against us but the Asians ,people in the continents as well.