By Koleoso Adelowo
Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has been in the news recently as a way of attracting attention to himself. A lot of people have been commenting on the character Femi Fani-Kayode. In my candid opinion, I think people are just wasting their precious time talking about Fani-Kayode, former Minister of Aviation, under Chief OlusegunObasanjo. I don’t think he is worth the attention. The reasons for this conclusion are not far fetching. This is a man who Obasanjo rehabilitated from oblivion to the present limelight he is still enjoying. Honestly, if not that singular honour that Obansanjo did to him, I am not sure anyone would have heard or known him. Perhaps, only his father’s name one would have been able to recall on his activism during the heydays of Action Group in the Western Region and that is where it would have ended.
I had cause to read some of his insulting comments on two of our elder statesmen – Generals Yakubu Gowon and Ibrahim Babangida – during his days as the Special Adviser to President Obasanjo on Public Affairs. Then, Femi Fani-Kayode strived to justify his appointment as a Special Adviser on Public Affairs but he ended up being an attack dog on respected personalities. He had acted in ignominy to Nigerians of high repute so he cannot expect praise from others but serious bashing and harsh words. He has not behaved like a well cultured and trained Yoruba man. In fact, he has thrown courtesy to the winds and should expect negative comments against his personality in droves. Nobody of that repute or status as a former minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be speaking with gutter languages that are common among the touts at the motor parks. When you embarrass others for whatever reasons best known to you, there are several others that will equally take you to the cleaners dirtier than you expected.
When Fani-Kayode crossed over to the newly registered All Progressives Congress, APC, I overlooked his cross carpeting and equated his action for time to judge. I knew pretty well that it will not take him time to run back to the umbrella (PDP) for cover. I knew he will not get the protection he was looking for with brooms all over to sweep away corruption. This, coupled with his court case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, APC will not accommodate him. So, the best for him is to seek the protection and reprieve he wants under the umbrella since they said the umbrella is big enough to protect and accommodate people, irrespective of their character traits and attitudes. The federal government has demonstrated this ignominy and corruption abomination by droping corruption charges against individuals that traced their foot-steps back into the fold of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. No wonder people look down on the party and those within the fold as corruption personified.
The recent back-jump by Femi Fani-Kayode to his former party if at all he was a member of the party if not for the courtesy of Obasanjo who made him to be a minister, I think the party he claims he belongs to now needs to observe and scrutinize him very well before his re-admission into the fold. He is not a political force to be reckoned with except that he is a political liability to any political party he belongs to. Who are his followers and those he commands whether in the social or political spheres? Let him name them and see the calibre of such individuals before he is admitted into any party. I am sure within the next couple of weeks; he may as well run for cover under any other political party if the umbrella is turned upside down given the dismal performance of the ruling party currently.
Femi would have been a respected voice in the current dispensation if he had maintained his profile and remained in a political party instead of being a mole in the fold of progressive opposition. It was a miscalculation for him in the first instance to leave PDP when he knew he has a case to answer and the government will use its attacking state apparatus like dogs to locate him wherever he runs to. If he does not have any case, especially with the EFCC, it would have been better but such a monumental misappropriation that is under investigation, he cannot get reprieve like others. There are state governors, ministers and National Assemble lawmakers who would have also dumped PDP for long but because they all have cases to answer, the best for them is to stay put under the umbrella for the time being to see if the umbrella will eventually be in tatters or remain firm. If they make the mistake to look or go elsewhere for now, they will end up in jail.
Adelowo wrote from No 15, Isolo, Oshodi Express Way, Lagos
