OPC, Abaribe, Sheik Gumi lash Fani-Kayode over defection to APC

Reactions have continued to trail Thursday’s official defection of former chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and one-time Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

This is as while the O’odua Peoples Congress (OPC) accused the former minister of being a ‘political jobber with no ideology,’ adding that he ‘has no measure of integrity,’ Islamic cleric, Sheik Ahmad Gumi, described Fani-Kayode as the ‘Judas of Oduduwa.’

On his part, Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe simply opined that former President Olusegun Obasanjo was right after all on his take on Fani-Kayode, when he qualified the ex-minister in rather uncomplimentary description.

Similarly, former Minister of Sports and chieftain of the APC, Solomon Dalung, described Fani-Kayode’s action as ‘shameful,’ as he further questioned his party’s new priority of ‘recruiting political liabilities instead of confronting the country’s mounting security and economic challenges.’

It would be recalled that, Thursday, Fani-Kayode formalized his defection to the APC following his introduction to President Muhamadu Buhari, during a visit to the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

He was led to the meeting with the President by the APC National Caretaker Committee Chairman and Mai Mala Buni, in company of Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State.

After the Thursday presentation to President Buhari, Fani-Kayode told State House Correspondents that he also played a major role in the earlier defection of three PDP governors who joined the ruling party.

The three governors, he disclosed, include; Bello Matawalle, David Umahi of Ebonyi State, and Prof. Ben Ayade of Cross River.

Also present at the occasion was the Secretary to the Government of Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha.

Fani-Kayode was a former spokesman for the 2019 PDP Presidential Campaign Council of then President Goodluck Jonathan.

He was also the Special Assistant on Public Affairs to former President Obasanjo between 2003 and 2006.

However, his defection has come with heavy criticisms from all quarters, as indivials and groups have berated the former minister for his action.

The OPC accused Femi Fani-Kayode of being an agent of government among Yoruba Nation activists having allegedly dined and wined with agitators such as Sunday ‘Igboho’ Adeyemo.

OPC, in a press statement on Friday, by its Publicity Secretary, Yinka Oguntimehin, titled, “Defection: Be ready for more betrayers, OPC blasted Fani-Kayode saying, ‘FG’s 4bn dollar loans have no economic value.’

The group also warned that ‘more people like Femi Fani-Kayode are abound within the South-West region will come out in the coming days,’ even as it described Fani-Kayode as a ‘political jobber with no ideology,’ adding that he ‘has no measure of integrity.’

The organisation said the defection of the former aviation minister was “never a surprise because he had been romancing with All Progressive Congress stalwarts all over the country”.

Before rejoining APC, Fani-Kayode was one of the outspoken politicians in support of the Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday ‘Igboho’ Adeyemo.

Yoruba advocacy group, OPC, however, urged the people not to be disappointed by the ex-minister’s move, saying Nigerian politicians are like chameleons that often change colours at will.

“You can’t trust a politician; Femi Fani-Kayode is just one out of the lot. He has no principle, and he is an agent of the government. So it is never a new thing to see him defecting from PDP to APC. Fani-Kayode has no measure of integrity and he is a political jobber with no ideology.

“Of what value is his defection to the APC. But the truth is Yoruba should be ready for more of Femi Fani Kayodes in our midst.

“A few months ago, our leader, the Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams, said in one of the group’s events that in the coming days before the 2023 elections, many people would show the stuff they were made of.

“He said many of our politicians are like a chameleon, they change so often, and that many of those that hitherto claimed to be true Yoruba sons and daughters would shift and change their positions because of cheap political crumbs, and position.

“And this prediction is now playing out with the defection of the former minister, many trusted allies of our race would soon join the train as he had rightly said,” the group said.

On his part, Senate Minority leader, Abaribe who also reacted, said during an interview with Arise TV on Friday that he was not surprised about the development, describing Fani-Kayode as ‘a confused person.’

“I do not want to dwell on his issue. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had said it all before. He said “Femi Fani-Kayode is my boy. Provide him food, he will eat and then sing for you. He’s a smart boy,” Abaribe said about the defection.”

Fani-Kayode served Obasanjo as his Special Assistant on Public Affairs between 2003 and 2006.

Also reacting, controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, accused Fani-Kayode of being a traitor after defecting to the APC.

The Kaduna-based Islamic cleric said this in a Facebook post titled, ‘Judas of Oduduwa’, where he attached a previous post by Femi Fani-Kayode that he prefers to die than join APC.

Commenting on the post, Gumi called the former Nigerian minister ‘Judas of Oduduwa,’ adding that he had known that Fani-Kayode’s actions were not real.

“I have for long, neglected the rantings of the Judas of Oduduwa attacking me knowing fully well that he is fake and a traitor.

“Time has now caught up with him and thanks to Allah, all his vituperations are cast in the dustbin of merciless history.

“It is him now, one wonders which of the seven circles of hell this duper will settle if he doesn’t repent.”

For chieftain of the APC and former Minister of Sports in Buhari‘s first tenure, Solomon Dalung, ‘it’s shameful.’

In a statement issued on Friday, Dalung said he felt ashamed watching Fani-Kayode standing by the President in the State House in Abuja, even as he described the ex-media aide to Obasanjo as a ‘political hawker and “liability,’ adding that his defection to the APC is insensitive and a bad omen for the ruling party.

According to Dalung, Fani-Kayode is now the latest political bride of the President whom he earlier called a ‘criminal.’

“In the whole of my existence, I have not been ashamed of myself like yesterday (Thursday) when I watched Femi Fani Kayode standing by the President in the State House in Abuja.

“I have no problems with people’s political affiliations but I have issues with the manner the confidence and goodwill of Nigerians are been gambled with recklessly by clueless political elites.

“Could recruitment of political liabilities in the face of raving insecurity that has claimed lives of many innocent Nigerians who voted for us be the priority now?

“What has happened to the humanity of APC leaders that we are so insensitive to the mode of the nation? If we have such political strategies of conquering political opponents like Femi Fani-Kayode, then why have we failed to deploy the same to defeat Boko Haram, banditry, unknown gunmen, kidnapping?

Dalung lamented that the mission of APC has changed from what was agreed on in 2015, adding that clueless people now join the party to get “juicy appointments”.

He added: “This wasn’t our mission when we mobilised Nigerians to trust us with power in 2015. The fear of APC is the beginning of wisdom, once a corrupt politician joins APC his sins are forgiven, all corruption charges will be automatically dropped and compensations with juicy appointments will follow.

“Loyalty in the APC party is a capital offence, no wonder Femi Fani-Kayode insulted President Buhari and swore he will prefer to die than joining APC.

“He is now the latest political bride of the President whom he earlier called a “criminal”. If this is what our party can offer at this critical stage of our national history, then Nigeria has entered one chance,” Dalung’s statement read.

Meanwhile, the embattled Fani-Kayode says he remains unshaken by the flurry of criticisms which has trailed his defection to the APC.

Fani-Kayode, who was a guest on Channels Television, Thursday, said he felt insulted when asked if his defection to the ruling party was ‘financially related’ as claimed by his critics.

”I don’t expect that kind of ridiculous and absurd question from you. I have never ever lacked in finances. There have been no inducements. Politicians don’t move because of finances. If I wanted finace, I would have moved a lot sooner than today. I have struggled and I have fought over the last six years than any of the little monkeys that said what you just said to me now.

“I stand proud and I stand tall. The kind of family I come from, the kind of background I have, finance is never an issue, but of course this is always the absurd narrative that people with a very small brain, with low intelligence quotient will always put out when they feel threatened and I don’t care. You can insult me from morning till night. It means nothing to me. What is important to me is my God and the fact that I am doing the right thing at the right time.

“I am considerably more wealthy than most people think and I don’t need anything from anybody. I work hard, I have always worked hard and I never lacked anything good. When I was fighting the government, you didn’t talk about finances or no finances. Now that I am not fighting the government you are talking about finances or no finances. It’s an old narrative. It’s an old story particularly form Nigerians from a particular segment of society like to say about those of us that are in the elite and I am not prepared to such rubbish and I am surprised yu can ask me that kind of question.

“Why don’t you go and ask a number of others that same question when they defect. It’s a very insulting question and no basis to it whatsoever,” he said.