He
was born 15 days after Nigeria was granted political independence from
British colonialists on October 1, 1960. At birth, the Heavens did not
blaze the commencement of his earthly sojourn but the young child who
was later to be christened David Oluwafemi Adewunmi and born to the
family of Chief Remilekun Adetokunboh Fani-Kayode, carried the genes of
astounding scholarly and cerebral greatness often associated with the
family.
His great grandfather, Rev. Emmanuel
Kayode, studied theology at Durham University in the United Kingdom in
the late-1800’s and was one of the earliest and most distinguished
Anglican Priests in Nigeria.
His grandfather, Justice Adedapo Kayode,
studied law at Selwyn College, Cambridge University, was called to the
English bar in 1923, was a brilliant lawyer and was the third Nigerian
to be appointed as a judge.
His father, Chief Remi Fani-Kayode, was a
distinguished and respected nationalist and elder-statesman and one of
the most brilliant lawyers that Nigeria has ever known. He studied law
at Downing College, Cambridge University, was called to the English bar
in 1943, was the second Nigerian lawyer to be appointed Queens Counsel
(Q.C.) in the UK, was the third to be appointed Senior Advocate of
Nigeria (S.A.N), was a Member of the Federal Parliament from 1953 till
1958, was the MP that successfully moved the motion for Nigeria’s
independence in 1958, was leader of the NCNC opposition in the Western
Regional House of Assembly from 1959 till 1963, was the Deputy Premier
of the old Western Region and Minister of Local Government Area and
Chieftaincy Affairs from 1963 till 1966, was the National Vice Chairman
of President Shehu Shagari’s National Party of Nigeria (NPN) from 1979
till 1983 and was a member of the elders caucus of the National
Republican Convention (NRC) from 1991 till 1994.
This is the lineage and heritage that Chief Femi Fani-Kayode comes from and bears.
I first met with him in 2003 when reporting for The Punch
newspaper as the chief correspondent of its Sunday title at the Abuja
Bureau. Before meeting him, like many journalists and members of the
public, I saw in Fani-Kayode the picture of “an arrogant fellow” whose
upper class British accent attracted more envy than admiration. As
Special Assistant (Public Affairs) to then President Olusegun Obasanjo,
he faced the arduous task of replying stone throwers of the government.
Obasanjo, who was then seen a lackey of the North, had turned against
those who arranged for his emergence on the throne. The consequence was a
backlash from the angry core north, as the roof was almost brought down
on the government.
After granting an interview where he
explained the President’s views on some key issues, he later called to
express gratitude when it was finally published. From then, he became a
constant source of response on issues concerning the government.
Convinced that the public perception about his person was misplaced, I
arranged with some colleagues from other media to have an interaction
with him. Further to that, I convinced him to be a guest at a forum
organized by the Correspondent Chapel of the FCT NUJ in 2003 where he
really proved his mettle.
Unlike other government officials, FFK
has an uncanny way of striking relationship with reporters. He does not
allow the tight schedules of office to keep him away from media
practitioners. As former SA to Obasanjo, he has learned the virtue of
keeping the media at close quarters and influencing media perspectives
on contemporary issues. Realizing that information remains key in
influencing people’s opinions, he reads a lot and seems to have answers
to all questions on his fingertips. As the armour bearer of the Obasanjo
administration, he came under fire from critics opposed to the
brashness of the Ota farmer in undermining democratic institutions like
the National Assembly.
In the Nigerian society that places much
premium on hypocritical respect for elders, FFK never shied away from
speaking the facts and allow Nigerians make up their opinions. After
serving as SA to Obasanjo for three years, he was nominated for a
ministerial position. He scaled the hurdle despite protest from some
senators, and he was later appointed Minister of Culture and Tourism.
Few months later, incessant air crashes made the government to redeploy
him to the Aviation Ministry where he returned safety to air
transportation.
Knowing Femi Fani-Kayode in the last 13 years has revealed to me the
awesomeness of his character. When convinced of a course of action, he
puts all his energy to achieving the set objectives. When he was
convinced to join the Obasanjo regime, he worked so hard to ensure that
he was not merely a number in the cabinet.
Afraid of what I described as his then
“blindfolded loyalty” for Obasanjo, I once cautioned him against
following the Ota Farmer on all issues, but he responded, “I am loyal to
President Obasanjo and shall do everything to discharge such loyalty
for the interest of my country.” I was worried when his name came up on
the N5.6 billion Aviation intervention fund scandal during the early
months of the Yar’Adua government. When I finally met him, he dismissed
my apprehension and said he was not guilty.
Seven years or so later, the court would
dismiss the charges and set him free. Fani-Kayode was later to part
ways with the PDP to join the APC in a rainbow coalition against the
then ruling party. His appointment as Director of the Jonathan Campaign
Organization and his roles in the campaigns are too well documented to
warrant a repeat.
As he celebrates 56 years on earth
today, FFK is being accused of spending government funds for campaigns.
His constant bashing of the Buhari Government, which initially was
considered as the trait of an irredeemable opposition figure, is slowly
attracting a cult-like followership. He is certainly the only Nigerian
politician that has, in almost equal measure, the oratorical and written
prowess in advancing national discourse. With these traits, his
articles on social media and newspapers enjoy tremendous readership.
My Muslims friends and brothers have had
cause in the past to call my attention to his anti-Islam posturing in
some of his writings. “Please tell your friend FFK that he is too much
for this anti-Islam posturing. Please he should stop it. Advise him to
speak and write on national issues”, a few advised me. When I later met
him on the matter, he replied, “But Simon, you know that I am not
opposed to Islam. I have friends among Northerners and Muslims, and I
believe they mean well for this country. No one can accuse me of being
anti-North or anti-Islam. I stand for the truth and state it as it is.”
Having known and keep close tabs on the
thinking of FFK in the last 13 years, the former minister is pained that
despite launching 1,000 troops to tackle cattle rustling in the
North-west, the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has refused to
set up similar military operations to stop the genocide in some states
of the North-central states and Middle Belt zone that are predominantly
Christians. He is worried that the government has failed carrying all
sections of the country in the affairs of the nation. He is upset of
what he perceived as clear cases of marginalization of certain sections
and religion in advancing what he sees as clear signals for national
dangers. The resurgence of Biafra and the return to the trenches by the
Niger Delta militants are signposts that all is not well with Nigeria.
He sees the absence of national consensus in tackling these problems as a
danger that should be avoided at all cost.
Like many Nigerians, he feels anguished
at the cascading poverty that has become the lots of our people and
reducing the populace into fright victims. The frightening uncertainties
and thick clouds of trouble in the nation’s skies keep him awake and he
is always caught in apprehension over what the future holds for the
people. As a father, he is clearly in agony over what a troubled country
will mean for his son, Aragorn. His public views are distress calls for
the nation’s leaders to put things back on track. Instead of faulting
his style, FFK believes that government should look at the substance of
his writings and discourse.
Despite his writing sometimes laced in
pessimism, the FFK I know believes in the greatness of the Nigerian
state. But he also believes that such greatness cannot be achieved in
the atmosphere of violence and intimidation. He believes that the
restructuring of the nation seems to be the only viable option in order
to ensure regional autonomy for fiscal federalism.
As Chief FFK celebrates his 56th
birthday, here is wishing him long life and continued struggle to ensure
a free society where all voices count. May his cherished dream of
justice to all not remain too long unfulfilled! Happy Birthday!
Musa Reef is a media practitioner. He lives and works in Abuja, Nigeria. He can be reached by email HERE.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
Musa Reef is a media practitioner. He lives and works in Abuja, Nigeria. He can be reached by email HERE.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
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