Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Aviation Minister has finally responded to the reactions trailing his rumoured plan to dump the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, for the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Fani-Kayode
gave his response in a lengthy article he made available to newsmen at the
weekend.
He insisted
that before the next general elections, there will be many realignments and new
alliances, adding that major parties will see many shifts and that many
individuals will change sides.
Here’s the
full text of the PDP chieftain’s response:
Trap, spy
claims
Over the last week, millions of Nigerians have expressed concern about which direction I am going politically and much has been said.
Some have
gone out of their way to reach out to me and offered their counsel out of
genuine love and concern.
Others have
not reached out to me and have written or spoken out of ignorance, hate and
malice imputing the worst motivations for actions that they claim I have
purportedly taken.
This
contribution is an attempt to provide answers to just a few of the oftentimes
asinine and absurd assertions and observations that the latter group has made.
Some say they
warned me and that I have fallen into a trap whilst others say my voice has
been silenced, I am a spy and that this signals the end of my political career.
My response
to them and others who have conjured up even stranger motivations and conspiracy
theories when it comes to FFK is as follows:
To whom it
may concern: spare me your crocodile tears and be rest assured that I am too
big, too intelligent, too experienced and too forthright to fall into any trap.
It is
impossible to castrate a lion, render it impotent or silence its roar.
I stand on
all my beliefs, core values and principles. I am the voice of the voiceless, I
am a warrior, I fear nothing, I fear no-one, I am as constant as the northern
star and I will ALWAYS stand against evil.
Speaking to
other leaders across party lines in order to build bridges, engender peace,
foster stability and enhance national unity ought not to create such national
and international rage, panic and pandemonium.
Are we so
divided that we can’t even talk to one another and take pictures together
without causing a public stir and setting the Internet on fire?
You insult me
and say I am scared of prison because I had a meeting with two APC governors?
Do you know
how many PDP and APC governors and leaders I interact with and meet regularly?
Do you know how many I talk to on a daily basis?
Do you know
that I was prosecuted for seven years by PDP governments which tried to jail me
simply for speaking out against them yet it did not deter me? Ask those that
were in the Yar’Adua and Jonathan administrations.
After a
while, they got tired because the more they tried to intimidate me into silence
or make me flee the country, the more I stood my ground and fought from my
corner till they gave up.
Does that
sound like a man that is scared of death or prison?
You insult me
and say I am broke because I had talks with two APC governors.
Do you know
that what I spend on salary in one month is more than what some of these people
that are claiming I am broke earn in five or 10 years?
I have 55
domestic staff in my house alone. Not one of them gets below 70,000 naira per
month which is higher than the national minimum wage.
I do not owe
salaries and I feed each of the three square meals every day.
I do all this
just to help them and to ensure they can look after and feed their families.
Does that sound like a broke?
That is my
little contribution to the welfare of our people because I certainly do not
need so many staff. I employ them just to keep them off the unemployment line.
Apart from
that, do you know how many people I give scholarships to and how many people’s
children I feed and educate? Do you know how many other families I am
responsible for in terms of day-to-day living?
The Bible
says “be your brother’s keeper” and I do these things unto the Lord. I do them
and I will never stop even when my good is repaid with evil.
The Lord has
always provided for me and given me the fat of the land. He has always caused
me to be a blessing to others though I do not make noise about it.
For the last
60 years of my life, He has been good to me. He has caused me to excel, prosper
and flourish and from beginning to end He has always been with me and mine.
You say I
make money through politics; meanwhile, I left public office in 2007 which is
13 years ago! Does that make sense to you? In any case, is politics my only
source of income?
Am I your
conventional politician who craves elective office? Do I even attend their
meetings? I have been in this game since 1990!
I have been
making contributions to current affairs, political discourse and politics for
the past 31 years which is long before most of today’s governors or Ministers
even knew the meaning of the word.
NADECO
And it was
always a struggle that involved sacrifice. Where were my detractors when I was
in NADECO and fought against the military rule?
The records
are there and so are the essays and some of the people I worked with.
Where were
they when we set up September Club in 1989 and some of the nation’s greatest
leaders and elder statesmen and top politicians over the last 30 years,
including presidents, governors, Ministers and legislators across party lines,
were members?
Where were
they in the days of NRC, SDP and Choice ’92 when politics was real, when the
greats held sway and when men honoured their word?
Where were
they when we risked all for MKO Abiola’s stolen mandate and June 12th and even
had to go into exile for years because of it?
Where were
they when we stood against the annulment of June 12th and fought against the
government of General Sani Abacha?
Where were
they when we formed the Progressive Action Movement in 1999 and some of the
nation’s brightest and best young stars and minds made their contribution to
national affairs?
Where were
they when we fought against Senator Ali Modu Sheriff who was allegedly sent to
destroy the PDP?
Where were
they when I led President Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential campaign in 2015 and
took the battle to the gates of the enemy?
Where were
they when I stood behind President Olusegun Obasanjo and faced down ALL his
detractors?
Where were
they when I was targeted and almost assassinated on two separate occasions
during the Obasanjo presidency simply because I was the President’s
defender-in-chief and armour bearer and was totally committed to his cause?
I did all
this in the past and present and you say I am making money from it? Do you know
the risks involved in these things?
Do you know I
could have been killed together with members of my family long ago and most
certainly would have had it not been for God?
Can my
detractors give up so much and risk so much just for politics? Honestly, it
really is the deepest insult.
Wealth and
politics
Some of us
were born into wealth and have never lacked it. We were born into politics too.
We were born into the circles of power so nothing moves us.
For us,
politics is a noble calling and not a profession. It is about proffering
solutions to complex national issues and not about the acquisition of primitive
wealth.
We gave up
all for the struggle for democracy and the opportunity to help to develop our
country and move her forward and now we are insulted and mocked and told we did
it for money? Which money?
How much can
I be bought or bribed with? All the money in the world could not move me
because I have never lacked it.
What have I
not had or enjoyed in life from a very young age? Where have I not been?
I came to the
conclusion long ago that all is vanity and that material wealth means nothing.
I would never sacrifice my principles or integrity for it.
Mallam Abba
Kyari, the President’s late and powerful Chief of Staff, was my brother for
over 40 years and we interacted regularly whilst he was in power.
I never asked
him for ANYTHING from his government just as I never asked or got ANYTHING from
any of the previous Federal Governments between 2007 and 2021.
If I had done
so I would not have been able to criticise those governments publicly and I
would have been exposed. You cannot criticise where you eat from.
I did not
join APC when Abba was in government and I did not compromise my principles
when I could have asked him for anything since he had the ear of the President.
I respected
and loved him for who he was and NOT for the position he held and the feeling was
mutual.
I opposed his
government in spite of our friendship and did not share his views yet we
remained friends because our friendship was well above politics.
That is what
civilised people do. They agree to disagree and respect each other’s views.
They never let it come between their friendship.
I opposed
Abba’s government and risked losing an old and loyal friend and brother because
I believed passionately in all I said. I believed all that I said then and I
still believe it today.
All that and
now you dare to question my resolve and consistency? It is laughable.
Consistent
You say I am
inconsistent. Meanwhile, I have been more consistent in my views over the last
30 years than 95% of Nigerian leaders and I have stuck to my guns despite all
manner of persecution and suffering!
You say I
have no relevance meanwhile millions all over the world read my words avidly
every day and follow my actions religiously because I inspire them due to the
fact that I have always had the courage of my convictions and I have always
spoken truth to power.
Unlike most
politicians, I actually inspire people and give them hope. And most important
of all they trust me and trust my judgment.
They have
also acknowledged the fact that more often than not my words are prophetic and
I have displayed remarkable insight and foresight when it comes to national
affairs.
How many of
your so-called “relevant” leaders have done that? How many of them have
displayed such courage under fire for years on end?
How many of
them can have their newspaper columns in three national dailies closed over the
years due to threats to the publishers from the government and yet keep writing
their essays on social media with millions of people all over the world still
reading them and receiving the message?
How many of
them can be blacklisted by newspapers and television stations with threatening
orders from above and still keep talking?
How many of
them across party lines can mould the thoughts and guide millions in this way
with their counsel, words, actions and thoughts?
First seven
years of persecution under PDP then five years of persecution under APC! HOW
many of your leaders can stand such fire and pain and still fight on?
Almost all of
them ever do is sell you down the river, tell you lies, ignore your pain,
deceive you, mock you, use you and give you crumbs in return for your
acclamation, support and loyalty but you love them for that.
You say I am
scared of even more persecution. At the age of 60, you believe I am scared?
What more can
they do to me that they have not done already? And what more am I looking for
in life that I have not enjoyed over the years?
Yet you say I
am scared! And those that say so can barely endure one-tenth of what I have
endured.
Some of them
make noise from the safety of other countries and stay away from Nigeria out of
fear of being locked up yet they mock those of us that live on the doorsteps of
our oppressors in Nigeria and dare them to their faces.
Some of them
have not been able to face hardship or deprivation and neither can they bear it
when their rights are being violated.
Yet to many
of us this has become the norm and we are used to it yet we still continue to
struggle and fight the system regardless. Let me give you just one example. Do
you know that I have not been able to travel out of Nigeria for the last 13
years because my passport was first seized by a PDP government for eight years
and then by an APC government for five years?
Do you know
that I could not even go for medical check-ups outside the country because of
that?
Locked up
with B/Haram suspects
Did you ever
hear me complain or did this ever stop me from speaking truth to power,
standing firm against injustice or speaking up for the weak, the persecuted and
the voiceless?
Do you know I
was locked up by both PDP and APC Federal Governments for no just cause?
Do you know I
was even locked up in Boko Haram detention centres with Boko Haram suspects?
Do you know
that only terrorists were kept in the facility that they kept me? Do you know
that that place was worse than Guantanamo Bay and that it was built by the
British government?
Do you know
how terrifying that was and that I could have been killed or maimed whilst
there?
Yet did you
ever hear me complain about it, submit, compromise, give up or back down from
criticising the government or previous governments because of these trials and
tribulations?
How many of
your so-called “relevant” and “great” leaders can bear such torment and
injustice without cracking? Did you ever see or hear me crack? Did I ever
break?
Do you know
what horrors my first wife Regina and my daughter Remi were subjected to by a
PDP government? Do you know why they had to go into exile and live abroad?
Do you know
what hell my ex-wife Precious and first son Aragorn were subjected to by the
APC government?
Do you know
the tears we shed secretly and the number of times we suffered and were forced
to go underground for no just cause?
Do you know
the kind of stress and torment this put us through? Do you know that all our
bank accounts were frozen for five years?
Did all that
stop me or stop us from standing? Did we not endure and bear it all with
dignity for years and still continue to make our contribution to national
affairs with zeal and passion?
Yet leaders
like me that make these sacrifices and speak the truth you describe as having
no relevance, no consistency and you hate.
You mock,
ridicule, insult and believe the very worst about us at the drop of a hat. Some
even have the nerve and effrontery to say we are not politicians simply because
we have not run for elective office.
It is those
who speak the truth and that is courageous enough to expose and confront the
evil that you hate, judge and always think and assume the worse off at the drop
of a hat.
Do you know
that despite facing the most vicious persecution and prosecution for seven long
years the court found me not guilty of corruption whilst I was Minister of
Aviation and Minister of Culture and Tourism and acquitted and discharged me?
How many of
your leaders can endure going to court for seven years before four different
judges and in the midst of a vicious media witch-hunt in which most people who
knew nothing about the case had declared me guilty?
How many of
you could have survived that without capitulating, cracking, begging and
bending the knee?
Do you know
that I have been facing prosecution for the past five years in two separate
courts for doing absolutely nothing wrong except leading a presidential
campaign against Buhari and for Jonathan in 2015 and as a consequence of
politically-motivated and malicious charges which were filed only because of my
bitter and vicious opposition to the Buhari government?
Do you know
that under my tenure as Minister of Aviation there were no plane crashes whilst
the year before I came in there were five and 453 died in those crashes?
Do you know
that I put a stop to those crashes and that I am the only Minister of Aviation
in Nigerian history under which there were NO plane crashes?
Poll
Do you know
that despite all the challenges and persecution I was recently polled by 85% of
the readers of Vanguard Newspaper that I was the loudest and most consistent
voice of opposition against the Buhari government over the last five years?
All this yet
you label me a coward and someone that has achieved nothing?
Do you know
that most of those leaders you revere and love so much are cowards who are
unable and unwilling to risk all and speak truth to power?
All they are
able to do is to mislead you and their followers to hate and insult those of us
that really care for you.
Joker
Honestly,
some people need mental health checks and medical attention!
And for
anyone to say I will not be welcome in a party that I have not publicly
expressed a desire to join amazes me.
The joker
that claimed I was rejected by the APC needs to tell me where and when I
applied to join them and what my registration number was!
Did I tell
you I am leaving PDP for APC? Or did I tell anyone that I will stay in PDP
forever no matter what happens or no matter what they do to me or to the
country?
You see,
unlike most, I am a one-man army and riot squad and I am accountable to no man
or party. I am only accountable to God!
Unlike most,
I do not do things in the dark and I do not shy away from speaking the truth or
my mind once it is set.
When and if I
ever choose to make a move I will be clear and categorical and I will let the
world know, so hold your hate fire till we get to that bridge.
Yet know
this: I owe no-one any explanation for what I will do or will not do tomorrow,
I will gladly live with the consequences of my actions and decisions and I will
defend myself and explain my actions when I choose to do so if I believe it is
ever necessary.
2023
realignments, new alliances
I do not know
what the details are yet but, before 2023, there WILL be many realignments and
new alliances. Both parties will see many shifts and many individuals will
change sides.
This is
because we must get it right in 2023 and we must ensure that whoever takes
power at the centre, regardless of party affiliation, restructures our country
and takes our nation to the promised land.
We must build
bridges and secure the peace, unity and progress of this country and most
important of all we must avoid civil war and do all we can to save our nation
from armed conflict and fratricidal butchery.
That is the
challenge before us today and that is the reality of Nigerian politics.
Whilst others
meet secretly and hide from the cameras in their quest to achieve these
objectives, I will not. I am the beloved of the Lord and I am a LION!
No man born
of a woman can silence my roar!
I am who I
am. I am FFK