By Ayo Kehinde
President Muhammadu Buhari, middle, Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara, left, Governor of Yobe, Mai-Mala Buni, Remi Fani-Kayode and Boss Mustapha, Secretary to Government of the Federation at the reception for Fani-Kayode at Aso Rock.
Presidential adviser on political matters to President Muhammadu Buhari and Special Adviser to Governor Bababjide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Drainage and Water Resources, Joe Igbokwe, has basted the governing party for accepting former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, FFK, who defected from Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Thursday.
According to Ojudu who said he was very sad on hearing the news of the defection; “this is the saddest day of my political political career”, he posted on his Face Book wall on Thursday.
He posted the message hours after FFK met his boss at Aso Rock and defected to the ruling party, with a Flashback: I would rather die than join APC – Fani-Kayode said in 2019 before dumping PDP.
Also, Igbokwe, took to his social media to express sadness that Fani-Kayode, who he said was not coming to add value to the party, was given a red carpet treatment while his (Igbokwe) efforts go unappreciated.
In one social media post, Igbokwe wrote: “Despite all my push for APC, Abuja has not given me a phone call talk more of inviting me for a coffee with the C-in-C.
“But here is a political charlatan and prostitute being given a red carpet in seat of power-Abuja.”
He lamented that many Buharists who have worked selflessly for the party would equally frown at the red-carpet reception given to Fani-Kayode
He said in the post; “They work day and night and even do the work of publicity secretary with their own data and yet nobody cares for them and even the system they are slaving for have not recognised them. Yet APC will be going round bringing charlatans, enemies, and dolts into the party at the drop a hat.
Ojudu started his campaign against Fani-Kayode in February during the membership registration and validation exercise of the party.
He told reporters at the end of the exercise that people like the former minister were not needed in the APC despite the ongoing membership registration exercise in the party geared towards attracting new members.
His words: “Members of our party have spoken. They have expressed their displeasure that anybody who could boldly abuse the president and insult the vice president; denigrate our party and a section of Nigeria is not welcome in our party. That is my position and the generality of our party members.
“If Fani-Kayode has decided to come, he has seen the sign that he is not welcome at the party. We need people in our party, but it should be those who have characters that one can be proud of.”
Fani-Kayode was led into the president’s office by the caretaker chairman of the APC and Governor of Yobe, Mai-Mala Buni and Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara on Thursday, September 16.
Speaking to State House correspondents after Fani-Kayode’s presentation, Buni quoted the president as describing the defection of Kayode to APC as a welcome development, saying that the president was pleased that the former minister had joined the APC.
Fani-Kayode, who also spoke to the correspondents, said he believed that it was time for him to cross over to join hands with the President in moving Nigeria forward, adding that Buhari was the father of modern day Nigeria with the ongoing infrastructure projects in the country.
