Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode on Sunday blasted former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido for criticising former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his comment that Boko Haram and herdsmen were fighting to islamise Nigeria, saying that only those who supported such idea would criticise the ex-president.
Fani-Kayode said heard one or two people Lamido were not too happy with what Obasanjo said and had called him out for saying it.
“That is sad and unfortunate because Obasanjo has done more for the core north, Lamido’s Fulani tribe and Nigerian unity than any other former President or Head of State in our history. He also fought in a civil war to keep the country together.
“Why should Sule be upset about Obasanjo exposing Boko Haram? His comments were directed at Boko Haram and their agenda. Is Sule a closet member of Boko Haram now? If he wants to continue to defend Boko Haram he should continue.
“For anybody from the core north to call Obasanjo names for speaking the truth and baring his mind over what is unfolding in Nigeria today tells you how blinded by power, insensitive and callous some of these people are. It is only those that subscribe to the Fulanisation and Islamisation agenda that will criticise or oppose Obasanjo’s observation and describe him as “a bigot” for making them,” he said.
Fani-Kayode in a statement on his Facebook wall said what Obasanjo said was timely and necessary and tht millions were commending him for it., saying that he spoke the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
He stated that Obasanjo remained the only politically active southern and Middle Belt leader who understood what was really going on, the grave danger that “we are in and what lies ahead. He is deeply courageous and his latest contribution that there is an agenda to Fulanise West Africa and Islamise Africa says it all.”
“Obasanjo needs say no more. History and posterity will be kind to him for speaking the bitter truth and saying what almost every other southern and Middle Belt politician and leader knows to be true but is too timid and too scared to say publicly. With his latest contribution he has vindicated yours truly and many others. I saw this coming in late 2013 and I told the world. Nnamdi Kanu saw it coming in 2014 and he told the world. Asari Dokubo saw it in 2015 and he told the world.
“Afenifere, OPC, YOLICOM, PANDEM, MEND, the Middle Belt Forum, the Niger Delta Avengers, IPOB, MASSOB and Ohaeneze saw it in 2017 and they told the world. The Christian Elders Forum, CAN and the Church saw it in 2018 and they told the world.
“Sadly the world refused to listen, left us on our own and, instead of rising to the occasion and confronting the evil, Nigerians went on bended knee to the powers that be and acted as if they were not saddled with a major problem that was bound to eventually consume them all. Now they know better even though most of them are still in denial,” he added.
Fani-Kayode said :now they must live with the consequences of their indifference, ignorance, cowardice and stoicism. What a pity. It is a tragedy of monumental proportions that a nation that is so blessed with extraordinary human and mineral resources should end up going this way.”
Lamido’s Salvo
The former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has earlier advised former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, not to allow his disappointment with the current administration to turn him to a religious and ethnic bigot.
He called on the former president to withdraw the statement credited to him that Boko Haram has an agenda of ‘Fulanization and Islamization’ of West Africa.
Mr Lamido, a political ally of Mr Obasanjo, stated this in a press statement on Sunday, through his media aide, Mansur Ahmad.
Sahara Reporters reported Mr Obasanjo’s statement at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Oleh in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State.
The former president was quoted as saying “the twin evils of Boko Haram and marauding cattle herders were initially treated with kid gloves.
“Its no longer an issue of lack of education and lack of employment for our youth in Nigeria which it began as, it is now West African Fulanization, Islamization and global organised crimes of human trafficking, money laundering, drug trafficking, gun trafficking, illegal mining and regime change.”
Mr Lamido, however, said he believes Mr Obasanjo’s statement was improper for a nationalist.
He said such statement should not have come from the former president.
“If it were said at a non religious venue to a non religious audience, may be; it might have been more tolerable.
“Please sir don’t let your disappointment with sitting presidents turn you into a bigot. You must not abandon the national stage.
“The cracks along the various divides in our National cohesion are already turning into huge gorges,” Mr Lamido said.
Messrs Lamido and Obasanjo are fierce critics of the Muhammadu Buhari administration. Both men have criticised President Muhammadu Buhari for his handling of the economy and security situation of the country.
The Boko Haram terrorism in Northern Nigeria has caused tens of thousands of deaths since 2009. The terror group has since spread its operations to neighburing West African countries including Niger and Cameroon.
A faction of the group, known as ISWAP, is also believed to have links with the Islamic State, the global terror group that once controlled a large part of Iraq.
