It looks like this Obafemi guy just collected money from a bunch of unsuspecting people and then vanished. Many passengers are stranded at Murtala Muhammed Airport and many are stranded in the US.
quote:Friday, January 16, 2004 FG Orders Airlift of Stranded Passengers From Cletus Akwaya in Abuja and Ndubuisi Francis in Lagos
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After about three weeks of inaction on the plight of stranded United States-bound passengers, the Federal Government yesterday set up a committee to ensure that all the stranded passengers were airlifted to their base within 24 hours.
The committee headed by Director General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Fidelis Onyeyiri, has other aviation parastatals chiefs as members.
The passengers have, however, disclosed that operatives of the American Federal Bureau of Investigations(FBI) had opened a searchlight on the circumstances that led to the face-off between American carrier, World Airways and Ritetime Aviation and Travel Inc. owned by a Nigerian, Dr. Peter Obafemi.
Aviation Minister, Mallam Isa Yuguda's presence at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos yesterday was all that was needed for the stranded passengers to unleash their frustration and anger.
Addressing the passengers, Yuguda said the Federal Government had followed their plight and had been assured by the management of Ritetime that there were solid plans to fly them back to the United States immediately, adding that NCAA has been monitoring the development.
He stated that on the realisation that nothing was done to alleviate the plight of the passengers, the government, particularly President Olusegun Obasanjo had been worried hence his(Yuguda's) visit to the passengers at the airport.
Yuguda stated that it was unfortunate that Nigerians who travelled to their fatherland had to be subjected to such an ordeal, adding that government was investigating Ritetime and would not hesitate to sanction it where necessary.
He, however, disclosed that government's hands were tied since it has no link with the company, admonishing the passengers to be patient until they were airlifted to their base. This did not go down well with the passngers many of whom were almost becoming aggressive.
The US-based Nigerians who spoke in turns told the minister that situations such as the one they had been subjected to were responsible for the apathy of foreign investors to come to Nigeria.
They disclosed that official figures show that last year alone, N22 billion was brought into the country by Nigerians resident in the United States through Western Union Money Tranfer, which showed that they were interested in their home country.
They added that they had been making efforts to invest in Nigeria as well as persuading their friends and foreign partners to do so, regretting that the atmosphere such as the one foisted on them by Ritetime/World Airways had posed a stumbling block.
One of the stranded passengers who publishes African Newsreel in the United States, Mr. MClord Obioha said Ghana had become the first choice of African-American investors.
Speaking against the backdrop of Ritetime/World Airways, another stranded passenger asked why the Nigerian government has made the country a fertile ground for all kinds of phoney people masquerading as businessmen.
He stated that before giving approval to any investor in the United States, the FBI and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) would investigate the background of such an investor irrespective of whichever part of America that investor is based or is investing.
Some of the enraged passengers who recounted their ordeal, including the loss of their jobs in the United States, reminded Yuguda that when some Nigerians were stranded at the same airport two years ago, former Aviation Minister, Dr. Kema Chikwe, used official fiat to fly them back to the United States immediately.
They noted that the situation in which they had been subjected to was a big embarrassment to Nigeria, adding that FBI officials had already visited the airport in Lagos for investigations.
As tension heightened, Yuguda suddenly announced the setting up of a committee to airlift the passengers within 24 hours.
Meanwhile, the management of Wold Airways yesterday expressed regrets that the passengers had to be subjected to such ordeal, blaming the situation on Ritetime Aviation, which it said, defaulted in its financial obligations.
In a related development, the Federal Ministry of Aviation in a statement signed by Mrs. Ngozi Okwuogu, on behalf of the Minister said neither the Ministry nor the Federal Government had anything to do with the delay or cancellation of flights by the airline.
The statement noted that the US government designated World Airways to Nigeria on the premise of the open skies agreement it signed with Nigeria in August 2001. It said the airline which commenced operations in Nigeria last May also appointed Messrs. Rite Time Aviation Inc as its General Services `Agent (GSA).
"Though a Nigerian, the airline did not seek the advice of the ministry or any agency before appointing them," the statement noted adding the World Airways has been "involved in a number of flight cancellations."
For instance, it recalled that the airline had problems with its flights W0819, W0817 and W0 813 last December , January 3 and 5, respectively following which their US bound ticket holders could not make their return journey.
The statement said " as a responsible ministry, attuned to discharging its duties, " it directed NCAA to direct the operators of the World Airways to keep all stranded passengers in a standard hotel where feeding and conveniences will be provided them at the airlines' expense.
NCAA also "directed the airline to ensure that the contractual agreement to their passengers is respected" and that the airline should stop further sales of tickets until the problems were resolved.
The way the government wants to help, it seems that some at the top in Abuja have their finger in the deal. How did these people get into this mess?
If Aluko wants ********************1.com linked from BNW, Aluko should link BNW at ********************1.com Posts: 66 | From: Kalamazoo, Michigan | Registered: Nov 2001
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posted
One should probably symphatise with the stranded passengers. I don't know why I don't. Perhaps, because they are the kind who shout from the roof top how Obasanjo's trips abroad brought investments like my Obafemi's rite time travels. And regardless of who owns this 419 airline, how does one spend all they have without providing for situations like losing their return ticket?
[ January 20, 2004, 03:09 AM: Message edited by: CSE ]
Posts: 623 | Registered: Mar 2001
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You should know by now that 419 in BiafraNigeria is now only for the "shons of the soil" and those who bow before the Ota ape like Chris Ubah. Anybody else who pulled Obafemi's stunt in BiafraNigeria would suffer a shake down from Tafa Balogun and co.
CSE I hear you. This fellow never accepts credit cards and people are expected to pay cash, isn't that enough sign for any sensible person to stay away?
Posts: 1533 | From: USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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I hope there are no Igbos among those fools who paid cash to a flying Yoruba 419. I wouldn't even pay cash KLM. I can't say that I sypmpathize with those fools.
Posts: 113 | From: USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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Chiboy, I also find it strange that US residents willingly handed cash to this Obafemi fellow. On a wider scale, it seems to me that Yorubas are running riot with this sort of government sponsored scams. In five years they have done what the Hausas didn'tquite manage in more than thirty years. Otherwise, how does anyone explain that Bola Ige got away with NEPA budget scandal and Afolabi pocketed national ID budget. And the list goes on and on.
Posts: 623 | Registered: Mar 2001
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I don't feel sorry for those stranded passenger who paid cash to a yoruba fraudster. They should have learned long time ago not to trust any yourba business man.
posted
Information now coming out shows that Peter Obafemi is a Yoruba barber who operated a bunch of failed barber shops before he decided to contact Obasanjo to start an "airline." Together, the farmer and the barber started Ritetime Aviation and Travel, Inc.
Obasanjo was elated because this illiterate barber was just like himself, a confused man who took the helm of something he does not understand. Obasanjo was quoted as saying that "it would be an opportunity to show that too much book is not needed to operate an airline." From one illiterate goon to another, the barber Obafemi received financial and other government assistance, bypassing aviation industry safeguards.
As usual, someone had to pay. This time it was the penny-wise-and-pound-foolish people who opted for the cheapest ticket they could find. When the Yoruba barber failed to make payments to World Airways, it was the clueless passengers that suffered.
[ January 22, 2004, 08:43 AM: Message edited by: Patrick ]
Posts: 397 | Registered: May 2001
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How on earth would someone apply to pay for a flight ticket and he/she is told that "we only accept cash" (in a world where you can even book online) and the person goes ahead to buy?
Instead of blaming the Barber turned "Airline operator" or the Abuja-based (Obasanjo and co)crooks, I think the people who ought that should be given some hard lashing are the STUPID passengers.
Anyway, after passing through the experience their stupidity made them to pass through, hopefully, they will take to their heels when next they hear of ANY business (local or international) linked to someone from Oduduwa land.
Those who did not learn from the experience of the defunct Yoruba-managed Nigeria Airways, NEPA, etc should learn the hard way. NO PITY!
Posts: 997 | From: Germany | Registered: Mar 2001
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RITETIME'S DOOMTIME" - A Twisted but Somewhat Orchestrated Failure??XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O />
By
Ola Daroosha
Mr.dave3@netzero.com
Please allow me a small space in your column to contribute my opinion and what I know about the Ritetime World Airways problems. Once again, the traveling public has been betrayed by one of our own. Welcome to Peter Obafemi’s Ritetime World Airways..
First of all, there is no company in America or in Nigeria registered as Ritetime World Airways. The name Ritetime World Airways was fabricated by the less than ethical, fraud-laden mind of the founder of Ritetime Aviation and Travel Services - Peter O. Obafemi. From its inception to its present doom’s day story, everything Ritetime is a deception from the pit of hell in a ‘pick pocket’ sort of way. It is a systematic dipping into innocent people’s pocket by a glamorized ‘wanna be’ travel agency located in Atlanta, Georgia.
Ask the founder, Peter Obafemi what qualifies him as 'Aviation Guru' as he is commonly referred to in some media platforms where he through bribery and unethical ways got some correspondents to write documentaries froth with lies and unsubstantiated accolades. To be a Guru is to have an in depth knowledge of the inner workings of a chosen career field or industry through education and or service. Peter had no previous education, expertise or experience in the aviation industry. Yes, I am told he got a contract from the Nigerian government to build an Aircraft Maintenance Hangar in Lagos a few years back through the auspices of EXIM (Export-Import) Bank program. I wonder how that happened. Through ‘connections’ of-course. If yesterday would ever be a direct reflection of tomorrow, history will always repeat itself. With funds disbursed, whatever became of that project? Let’s ask Peter - the Otunba of somewhere. He likes that!
Going back to travel business experience, calling Peter and his Ritetime Aviation a Travel Agency business is a fallacy. From what I know, being a travel agent involves training in geography, CRS-Computer Reservation Systems, destination codes, history and customer service plus 2-5 years of hands-on experience. There is also a Regulatory Entity responsible for certification of qualified Travel Agents called ARC/IATA. To be certified is to be licensed which means that you have met all the requirements necessary to operate an Agency. Peter had none of these! The closest he got to this level of expertise is being a sub-agent. A sub-agent oftentimes without a store front would purchase international air tickets from qualified agents commonly referred to, as consolidators, he or she would then add from $10 to $60 or more to a quoted fare for his own commission. This is all Peter ever did in the Travel industry before Ritetime. I am not sure that this stint qualifies anyone as 'Aviation Guru'
Let the truth be told, Peter was a barber by profession but would not focus on what he knows hence his failures in a variety of business ventures including this last blemish called Ritetme World Airways. Lest I forgot, he actually ventured into his area of expertise once by establishing an outfit appropriately called ''Peters of Buckhead" - an upscale Barbers Salon that thrived successfully for between 5-9 months in the early 1990s but wound up being abandoned due to mismanagement and financial improprieties.
Shortly afterwards, he professed to be a Pastor. He even had a congregation of a few believers but Peter always managed to put himself first. Soon after establishing a series of pseudo companies for tax-exempt purposes, he ‘call it quit’ as the congregation thinned down to 6 people among them is one of his loyalists who still run own church in Atlanta. I wonder the kind of leadership that the congregation enjoys judging by his training and abrasive personality but guess what, this then Associate Pastor turned Travel Agent sold Rite time World Airways tickets - of course without a license but ticket sales were made possible because Ritetime is Peter's own gig - a typical ‘buddy connection’ enterprise. Judging by history, are you then surprised that Ritetime World Airways left people stranded in Lagos, Atlanta and New York for reasons of non-payment of delinquent arrears and fees due the airline? You shouldn't be. The handwriting had been on the wall from the beginning to-date. I am privileged to know that the first ever flight payment made to World Airways was a bounced check, which was quickly made good after the inaugural flight was in the air.
Let’s call a spade a spade, would you let a carpenter operate on your Grandpa's brain tumor? O.K., that is a little too severe analogy but you do catch my drift. This man called Peter Obafemi and his cronies black and white alike believe in one twisted financial principle “Get all you can, can all you get and sit on the can" In my opinion, the situation of things between Ritetime Aviation and World Airways have escalated negatively to-date. Therefore, the contract is in jeopardy and will be terminated if it had not yet been terminated. But I can assure you that Peter is already strategizing on when and how next to manipulate another business venture into existence and to his advantage without consideration for the consumer public who always wound up holding the empty basket. Good luck to those seeking refunds anew while some cancellation refunds from August 2003 are still pending. I heard that he is already planning to operate a domestic airline in Nigeria that he bought without a single airplane to its name. No need to wander where the funds rightfully due World Airways went.
If the Federal Government in Nigeria is serious about fighting corruption and fraud, Peter and his type must be stopped. He must not get away with this ‘fraud machinery’. The monumental hardship perpetrated on innocent holidays’ passengers by his careless disregard for public welfare must incur equitable restitution. What do you think happened to all the money paid by the stranded passengers for tickets? Do you know how many luxury cars Peter bought between August & October 2003? You guessed right. I am sure if all the ticket monies were reported and deposited into the escrow account as required by law, World Airways would not dare cancel those flights. I am glad that the National Airline 'The Eagle' contract has been awarded to SAA for its integrity. Would you believe that Peter was actually going after that contract by bribing officials? A maladjusted novice who couldn't run a charter operation successfully was going around bragging about being a contender for National Carrier contract. What a joke!
A few days ago, I read an article on "Nigerians in U.S. plan class action suit against Ritetime/World" in the Guardian Newspaper of Wednesday, January 7, 2003. I have always enjoyed reading Nigeria Newspapers on-line. I am glad that our correspondents are finally reporting news that matter. Freedom of speech is a product of democracy and since our motherland - Nigeria is testing the waters of democracy, I am encouraged that our correspondents will continue to shed some lights on the evils that plague our nation such as ‘status grabbing’ without merit.
Over the years, I have read of 'high-up' officials buying and using forged certificates to acquire fake titles. Most common these days are titles like Doctor, Engineer, Accountant, etc without having a qualifying degree. People who did all the work necessary to achieve these titles must be commended for their hard work and should have the 'bragging rights' to their achievements. Also those who by their service and achievements in the community received these titles are entitled to enjoy that which is awarded to them as 'honorary' by approved Academic Institutions. However, my beef is with those who for the sake of 'largesse' usurp these titles fraudulently and promoting themselves in this manner, deserve nothing but ridicule. This is why I am making this point at this point to address the points made below.
Another issue on the subject of the article of January 7, 2004 is that the same Peter who is the star of my article is mentioned as Dr. Peter Obafemi - Chairman & CEO of Ritetime Travel and Aviation Services. The company whose alliance with World Airways made the direct flights possible also made this past holidays season a living hell for many families both in the USA and in Nigeria. Many deemed it a season not worth remembering. How do you explain a bridegroom missing his own wedding while stuck at JFK in New York? Thanks to Peter and his Ritetme for the slogan “moving the World in comfort”. Where is the plane? I am shocked by what I read concerning over 1000 stranded passengers at Airports both in Nigeria and in the USA and the evidence of lost and or delayed luggage. The same name associated with this shoddy operation reminded me of an article I read in September or October edition of 'Green Pastures Magazine" published in Nigeria. In the article, the editor quoted Dr. Peter Obafemi as a go-getter who attended New York University, Princeton University and Atlanta Divinity Center with a PHD in Theology. Hello, have you tried to contact Atlanta Divinity Center lately? What was the result? Which New York University? Print media should do some investigative research to ascertain plausible truths to answers given by their interviewee before printing statements that are without merit but solely given with intent to deceive. If this man has any verifiable degree at all from an accredited University, I will send him a long letter of apology! He even remarked that he ventured into cinematography. I have researched into some known film archives. I have yet to find any production authored by Peter Obafemi. I seriously doubt the veracity of some statements contained in that article. However if you looked into that publication "Green Pastures" and the article in its entirety, you would discover that our good ‘doctor’ might not be able to justify the title that we all call him by. Please don't get me wrong, I have a childhood friend that we affectionately called by the nickname 'doctor" but Peter is not that friend.
In conclusion, the Federal Government of Nigeria advocates foreign investments in Nigeria but known blemishes like the scenarios described above make Nigeria undesirable to foreign investors who can help our economy. But once in a while some foreign companies give us the benefit of the doubt. Rightly so, they experience a hardcore Nigerian ‘game’ from the hands of fast-talking, ‘slick Rick’ optimist like Peter Obafemi and they quickly get a ‘black eye’. In their loss, some see a silver lining which when properly cultivated may yield abundant harvest joyfully ever after. Such is the humanitarian undertaking that World Airways had taken within the past few days to airlift the stranded passengers to their destinations without charge. For this, every well-meaning Nigerian family and non-Nigerians alike are grateful. It’s a humanitarian as well as a friendship gesture of immense proportions in an endearment sort of way. We are very grateful to World Airways & staff for this gesture and we can only hope that they will wipe the slate clean, reorganize and continue servicing the route for its potential and for the convenience of the business community and the good people of Nigeria. Once again, thank you for your thoughtfulness.
For those who were stranded but have now returned home, the experience will soon fade away. For those who're still stranded ' this too shall pass' but all of us Nigerians know that a direct air link between the US and Nigeria is more than a necessity. Dependable transportation is the lifeline of a growing economy like Nigeria’s and the humanity associated with it. World Airways minus Ritetime can and will help us greatly by continued direct flights between USA and Nigeria. God bless us all.
Much Love & Happy New Year!!
God bless Nigeria
___________________ Feel me? Ofu onye ana asi unu abia go. - Ednut Igbo-American . www.airamericaradio.com visit her. Posts: 2454 | From: Mother Earth | Registered: Mar 2001
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Thank you for that article, do any of you smell yoruba connections here. First Nigeria airways, then Bola Ige killed NEPA, then Obasanjo gave Peter Obafemi, millions of dollars for non existing contract, then allow him to dupe unsuspecting victims.
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