Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has revealed that he is meeting with APC leaders and other stakeholders inorder to ‘save Nigeria’.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Progressives Governors Forum, Dr. Salihu Lukman, has cautioned the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC against admitting Femi Fani-Kayode, into the party.
The PGF is the umbrella body of governors elected on the platform of the APC. Lukman described as disturbing, the circulation of pictures of a meeting between the APC National Chairman, Governor Mai Mala Buni; Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello; and Fani-Kayode amid speculations that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain was being encouraged to join the APC.
Fani-Kayode had since 2015 vilified APC and its leaders, and vowed recently that he would join the ruling party over his dead body. In a statement titled: ‘APC: Reminder about Our Values,’ Lukman said, “The speculation is that Mr. Fani-Kayode is on his way to joining the APC. The verdict in most media platforms is quite disturbing, but justifiably so, if the news about Mr. Fani-Kayode joining the APC is true.
“That our leaders will be meeting with Mr. Fani-Kayode in such a compromising way, suggesting that he may be on his way to joining our party, clearly indicates that either those of us saddled with the responsibility of advising them have failed or we have been completely cut off.
“How can a person who just few days, if not few hours, ago wrote to one of our leaders and derogatorily and condescendingly condemned his political prospects of emerging as the Presidential candidate of our party, be given such a high-level reception?
“Assuming the open letter to our National Leader, which is all over our media at the time of such reception, wasn’t offensive, what of the open letter he wrote to President Muhammadu Buhari last year?
“Besides the open letters, what abusive language has he not used against our party and our leaders? Most of these are unprintable.
“Most Nigerians, both APC members and non-APC members would appear to be in agreement that any association between APC and its leadership with Mr. Fani-Kayode is indicative of problem of values.
“Without being academic in anyway, the issue of values is basically about the qualities of people and the vision they hold.
“What kind of people are we aspiring to attract into our party? Do we want to reduce our party into one in which everybody is welcome?
“Can we for instance in any way or form contemplate having an Nnamdi Kanu or Abubakar Shekau as a member? If that were to be the case, why don’t we just have INEC register IPOB and Boko Haram as political parties and allow them to field candidates for elections?
“At this rate, one day, Nigerians will just wake and see some of our leaders presenting Mr. Fani-Kayode to President Buhari as a new member of our party.
“Although, we can confidently argue that President Buhari will not approve such deranged possibility, it is important to caution that such consideration will be stretching the trust of party members beyond acceptable limits.”
I’m meeting APC leaders, others to save Nigeria – Fani-Kayode
In an attempt to clear thickening cloud over his meeting with APC leaders, Fani-Kayode in several tweets on his official Twitter handle, @realFFK, said he met with them to discuss the “state of the nation, national issues, party politics and the way forward,” adding that he would meet other leaders across party lines to save Nigeria from imploding.
He tweeted: “Yesterday, I had the honour and privilege of having a very productive and important meeting with the National Chairman of the APC, Governor Mai Buni of Yobe State and Governor 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. Continue reading…
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