Allen Onyema: Patriot, Pacifist, Progressive

Allen Onyema

Just like Mohandas Gandhi, Allen Onyema, Chairman of Air Peace Airlines can be described as a pacifist extraordinaire in the realm of social justice. In all his dealings as an entrepreneur and philanthropist, he faithfully bares the banner of humanistic values

History will never forget Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s Salt March, one of the great episodes of resistance in the last century. Also known as the Dandi Satyagraha, the March was an act of nonviolent civil disobedience in colonial India. Gandhi led a band of his closest friends and associates on an overland walk to the Arabian coastal village of Dandi. There, he was bent on flouting the salt tax law by illicitly harvesting the mineral from the beachside.

As with many other commodities, Britain had kept India’s salt trade under its thumb since the 19th century, forbidding natives from manufacturing or selling the mineral resource and compelling them to purchase it at a rather exorbitant price from British merchants. Given that salt was a dietary necessity in India’s humid climate, Gandhi saw the salt laws as an unpardonable evil. His ensuing actions struck a decisive blow against British imperialism.

Gandhi, in all of his many efforts to purge the world of inequality and social injustice was a strong advocate of non-violence. For him, it remained “the greatest force at the disposal of mankind.” Just like Gandhi, Allen Onyema, Chairman of Air Peace Airlines can be described as a pacifist extraordinaire in the realm of social justice. In all his dealings as an entrepreneur and philanthropist, he faithfully bares the banner of humanistic values.

His journey in peace building and conflict resolution began at the tender age of nine (9) having witnessed an acrimonious feud between his beloved Father and Uncle. “I saw two adults running around looking for the best club to use on each other. Some weeks later after the heated fight, I ran after my uncle because I felt that staying with him will make both of them realize they were brothers and that was exactly what I did”, stated Onyema.

Such audacity and desire to fight for peace even at the expense of one’s wellbeing is in short supply in today’s multifaceted world. Interestingly, it was in the vestibules of one of the country’s foremost ivory towers - University of Ibadan (UI) – that his knack for conflict resolution was fully nurtured. Onyema, in one instance led a group of nine (9) students on a journey to the ancient city of Zaria to quell an ethnic riot that had already claimed the lives of many.

It would not be the last time that Onyema put his life on line for a cause.  Following the flurry of commendation and plaudits the students received on their return to campus, Onyema and his colleagues formed a group known then as Eminent Friends’ Group – an association created with the objectives of promoting ethnic harmony amongst Nigeria’s diverse ethnic nationalities and fighting the incidence of violence of all forms in their beloved country.

“There is truly an absence of broad-based nationalism in the country as most Nigerians talk about the ethnicity rather than their country”, Onyema noted in an exclusive interview. Racial and ethnic diversity has been proven to be quite beneficial for many societies. In the case of Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, it has become a serious albatross to its own socio-economic growth and advancement.

It was this condition in the country that necessitated the establishment of the Foundation for Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria (FEHN), a platform designed to institutionalise non-violence and civil behaviour in Nigeria. Propelled by the need to build a violence free society, Onyema, through FEHN waded into the Niger-Delta crisis at a time when nobody dared. “Businesses were taking flights out of the Niger-Delta. Foreigners were scampering out of the region.

“International Oil Companies (IOCs) were moving their headquarters away from the region and this affected the community as a whole. In all of the gloom, I decided that I must fight the incidence of violence with everything I have”, stated Barrister Onyema. He used his funds to sponsor youths through the Nonviolence training and transformational programme long before the IOCs and Government began to invest in his training programmes.

The many successes of FEHN in the transformation of restive youths quickly drew the attention of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC). Prior to emergence of FEHN, the Oil Companies had constantly experienced shutdowns of their operations due to the violent activities of restive youths. These endless disruptions came to an end when FEHN trained and transformed several restive youths in the Niger- Delta region.

Giving the success of the initiative, other oil majors had no other option but to follow suite. At this juncture, it is imperative to stress that Onyema happens to be the only Nigerian with level-three certification in Nonviolence education which he bagged from the University of Rhode Island in the United States (US). Still pushing the ideals of Non-violence, the Yar’Adua administration soon got wind of the accomplishments of FEHN in training and reforming militants.

“When late President Yar’Adua assumed office, he enquired about me and my work in the Niger-Delta from the then Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Timi Alaibe. He affirmed that many more militants will be trained under the initiative. “After transforming over 30, 000 ex-militants, I employed many of them to also train others in the creeks. It was said that the success of this programme finally convinced President Yar’Adua to grant Presidential Amnesty to Niger Delta Militants.

His works of peace particularly in the area of transforming the restive youths of the Niger Delta Region has earned him several national and international honours and recognition such as the 2007 Martin Luther King Global Award For Pioneering Nonviolence Education in West Africa; Hope For Humanity Award (Rotary Club); 2006 Africa Leadership Merit Award (Africa International New Magazine), to mention a few.

Onyema was recently appointed to the Executive Board of the Global Nonviolence Conference Series Inc. USA with notable world leaders as Hon. Dr. Andrew Young and Suarez Ramos as members. By this appointment which was confirmed in April 2007, Onyema became the second African ever to be so appointed to the Global Board.

His desire to solve problems did not end there. When Air Peace Airline came into the aviation industry in October 24, 2014, Barrister Onyema told the world that air travel will never be the same in Nigeria.

From all indication, the company is living up to its billing by maintaining a strict culture of safety in its operations similar to what can be found in any of the world’s best airlines. “I went into the aviation industry to create jobs for Nigeria’s teeming youths. When the youths are not gainfully employed, the devil could use them to perpetuate evil in the society. When I look around today, there is a critical mass of unemployed youths roaming the streets and this in itself constitutes a danger for the entire country”, said Onyema.

The airline has over 20 operational aircrafts in its fleet including 13 Boeing 737 and two 300- capacity Boeing 777 airliners acquired for international routes. Currently, Air Peace operates 13 domestic and 4 regional flights with approval to commence 5 international routes outside Africa. Shedding more light on its international operations, Onyema stated, “We started with the West coast. We started Accra last year. We have extended our services to Senegal, Gambia, Sierra Leone and soon we are hitting Monrovia, Lome and Abidjan.

“The South African market is not left out. We have sent out people over there to explore the market. Our plan is to commence Lagos to Johannesburg routes. Of course, we will commence a non-stop flight to Guangzhou, China and Dubai as well.” The man Onyema is a philanthropist, serial entrepreneur, social advocate and more importantly a man of peace.

He is a highly detribalized Nigerian who is married to Alice Ojochide Ejembi – a Nigerian woman from Benue State. Together they have four children. We dare say that Onyema’s passion and unbridled dedication to promoting peace, justice and economic empowerment is surely deserving of a national award.

Written by Ben Uzor