Fani-Kayode: My meeting with APC govs is to avert civil war
By Felix Oboagwina
Amidst speculations that his Monday with two governors of the ruling All People’s Congress (APC) signposted his impending defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has said they met to discuss grave national issues.
Fani-Kayode explained in a tweet on his Twitter handle yesterday that his meeting with the APC governors dwelt on the necessity to build bridges, join hands across political divides and regional lines to save Nigeria from drifting into civil war.
According to the emerging narrative, Fani-Kayode dropped into the Abuja home of Kogi State’s Governor Yahaya Bello, after which the duo together visited the Federal Capital residence of the Caretaker National Chairman of APC, Governor Mai Buni of Yobe State.
Apart from his discourse with the two leaders of the ruling APC, Fani-Kayode revealed that he was also holding collaborative talks with leaders of other political parties.
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He said, “Yesterday, I had the honour and privilege of having a very productive and important meeting with the Nat. Chairman of the APC, Gov Mai Buni of Yobe State and Gov Yahaya Bello of Kogi State. We discussed the state of the nation, national issues, party politics and the way forward.
“These meetings are wide-ranging and ongoing and I am delighted to be involved in them.
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.
I can and will never compromise or jettison my core fundamental principles for any reason and I stand firmly on my honestly held opinion that we need to enthrone equity, justice and fairness in this country for it to survive. I also believe in restructuring the country and in a vigorous and effective fight against terrorism.
The fact that I am in talks with leaders from a cross-section of pol. 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 next few months will be critical in terms of whether or not our country will survive as one and I believe that if we want it to be so, dialogue, building bridges and collaboration, even with those that you may disagree with on some issues, is vital and inevitable.
That was the purpose of our meeting. Permit me to add the following for the record. I will always stand for justice and I will never cease to oppose evil.
“Yet the greatest evil that we are confronted with today is the prospect of a second civil war.
“Despite our differences, as leaders and statesmen, we must all sheath our swords and ensure that we never go down that path. May God help our country and may He guide us all.”
Meanwhile, Bello’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Onogwu Muhammed, also issued a statement of the encounter and quoted his boss as saying that all hands must be on deck to maintain the country’s indissolubility.
According to Muhammed, the Governor emphasised the need for stakeholders to commit to fighting insecurity without ethno-regional biases.
The statement read: “The support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in fighting insecurity and poverty in the country must be holistic, irrespective of party differences.
“The All Progressives Congress (APC) remains the hope of Nigeria and it is important for everyone to support Buhari’s administration for the development of Nigeria as a country.”
As he met on Monday with Governors Bello and Buni at the Abuja homes of the two, Fani-Kayode sparked rumours of returning to APC, the erstwhile opposition party he joined after leaving PDP.
But in June 2014, he retraced his step to his former party.
While in PDP, Fani-Kayode served as Special Assistant (Public Affairs) to President Olusegun Obasanjo from 2003 to 2006, following which he became the Minister of Culture and Tourism (June to November 2006) and subsequently Minister of Aviation until the end of Obasanjo’s tenure in May 2007.
Later, he was appointed Director of Media and Publicity for President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 campaign.
He has had several spats bordering on corruption charges with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In 2016, the former Minister was charged, alongside a former Minister of Finance, Mrs. Nenadi Usman, and others, on a 17-count charge of unlawful retention, unlawful use and unlawful payment involving the sum of N4.9 billion.
However, despite the lingering corruption charge, the son of Chief Remi Fani-Kayode, late former Deputy Premier of the Western Region in the First Republic, has remained a vociferous critic of the Buhari regime.
