The Thursday’s defection of former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has elicited a deluge of reactions from Nigerians.
Earlier, The New Diplomat had reported that Chairman of the APC, Caretaker Committee Mai Mala Buni, presented Fani-Kayode to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the move by Fani-Kayode has been generating a barrage of comments from Nigerians. The former minister is known to be a staunch critic of APC as well as the administration of President Buhari.
The New Diplomat also recalls that the former minister has been switching from APC to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since 2014.
Fani-Kayode joined PDP in 2002 and was appointed as a member of presidential campaign team for former president Olusegun Obasanjo prior to the 2003 presidential election. After President Obasanjo won that election Femi Fani-Kayode was appointed as the first ever Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He was later appointed the Minister of Culture and Tourism from 22 June to 7 November 2006 and as the Minister of Aviation from 7 November 2006 to 29 May 2007.
Fani-Kayode was also a founding member of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) which later coalesced into APC. He campaigned against the election of former President Goodluck Jonathan during the build up to the 2011 presidential election. In 2014, he switched allegiance to the PDP and as well campaigned against President Muhammadu Buhari.
The New Diplomat also recalls that in February, speculation emerged that Fani-Kayode had dumped PDP for APC.
This came shortly after Kogi State Governor, Yayaha Bello announced that Fani-Kayode has decided to join the APC.
However, the former minister denied the speculations then describing it as false.
“Despite the obvious benefits and wisdom in this noble initiative, it amazes me that some people should feel that it is wrong for me to sit with other leaders in the country to discuss issues which touch and concern the national cohesion, future and stability of our country. This is a time in which we must set all our differences aside, build bridges and come together as one lest our country drifts into fratricidal butchery and civil war. It is right and proper for us to talk and to attempt to join hands across political, religious and regional lines to save Nigeria. The fact that I am in talks with leaders from a cross-section of political parties, including the ruling party, does not in any way derogate from this and does not mean that I will ever change those views,” the former minister had said.
Similarly, Fani-Kayode had in 2019, while debunking the speculation of him joining the APC, said he would rather die than join APC.
In one old tweet pulled out of the Twitter’s archive, he said: “The suggestion that I joined the APC is false and insulting. Those that are peddling this fake news should bury their heads in shame. With what we have witnessed I would rather die than join a filthy, rat-infested sinking ship like the Almajiri Peoples Congress (APC).”
Meanwhile, reactions have continued to trail his defection to the APC. Below are some of the reactions harvested from the social media:
“Like Gumi, Like Fani-Kayode. One’s father was a religious bigot and extremist, the other’s father, a political hack. No prizes for correctly aligning fathers and sons, but trust that the rotten apples are at the foot of the respective tree..🤨”(@delefaroti)
“Guy man has gone back to his old vomit. Nobody should ever wish to tow the path of FFK, the man has no shame upon all he’s saying against bubu and the APC led government.”(@makaylun1)
“”Femi Fani-Kayode @realFFK IS NEVER A POLITICIAN. Like his father he is a MERCHANT in the corridors of Power and the only thing he has so sell his oratory that flows from his acerbic tongue which he uses to mesmerize People who are carried away by words and not substance.”
“After all Fani Kayode FFK, said about Tinubu, APC and Buhari, he is about to dine and share same philosophy with them.
The character of a typical Nigerian politician.”(@chidi)
“Lol how many of y’all missed the rapture? Because Fani-Kayode said there’s no way he was returning to APC until Jesus comes back and Kingdom comes”🤣
Same guy who attacked a journalist for asking “who is bankrolling your PR junkets these days?” At least, now, Nigerians know who.”(@olawoye_dotun)
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