Self-glorification is not new to Nigerians as a relevance-seeking strategy by politicians who have been left stranded at the bus-stop in the new scheme of things.
If that strategy appears to be failing, some adept politicians advise that you quickly combine it with self-righteous pontifications which you shoot at those in government. These salvos would, usually make you smell like roses, such that those who dumped you at the bus-stop, would forever regret the day they did not take you along with the convoy.
Sadly,for one young and well educated politician with such great potential known as Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, this has been the case since he left government five years ago.
This new-found public-spirited commentator who jumps on any issue under the sun in our troubled polity ,usually expresses views that range from the ridiculous, to the frivolous, to the unserious, to the kindergarten, to the downright sleazy. Even Fani-Kayode himself admits that he thrives in controversy.
The most recent tragic death of several Nigerians in an air crash in Ikeja Lagos provided Fani-Kayode with his latest ammunition. And firing on all cylinders, he has gleefully launched a barrage of verbal attacks at the President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, at ranking executives of his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and at the current Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah,among others.
As is typical of Fani-Kayode, his attacks on his political friends-turned-opponents in the PDP are both virulent but again, self-serving. Let’s take a look.
Fani-Kayode says: “Before the first crash took place last year and between the two major crashes there were numerous other smaller ones involving light aircraft, private jets, military planes and helicopters that were not publicised. All these unfortunate events occurred under the tenure of Princess Stella Oduah, who is the current Minister of Aviation. Under her watch, close to 200 souls have been killed in air crashes in the last two years alone.
“This does not surprise me given the nature of the individual that is involved,” he says.
Fani-Kayode is very funny. One,Oduah is not responsible for military aircraft.Two, is he suggesting that Princess Oduah likes Nigerians to be killed and that the death of this large number of Nigerians has something to do with “the nature of the individual that is involved,”in this case, Oduah?
What is in “the nature” of the current Aviation Minister that is attracting air crashes but did not attract air crashes during Fani-Kayode’s tenure but also attracted numerous fatal crashes during Fani-Kayode’s predecessor, Professor Babalola Borisade’s tenure and his (Borisade’s predecessor),Dr Kema Chikwe’s tenure as Aviation Minister? Fani-Kayode who is known to have attended a seminary, must have a special nature which prevents air crashes!
Fani-Kayode then takes his comments further into the realm of the ridiculous when he says: ”As a matter of fact, I am convinced that even if 1,000 people were killed in air crashes in the space of just six months under President Goodluck Jonathan, he would still not re-deploy or sack Stella Oduah because our President just ‘doesn’t give a damn’”. Now, perhaps, we can safely assume that Fani-Kayode wants more Nigerians to die in order to prove that his comments are right. Rather, we should ask Fani-Kayode this question: ”Why should any Nigerian die from an air crash?” Really, to any right thinking person, why would the President or the Aviation Minister want anybody to die from an air plane crash?
Such opportunistic criticism by Fani-Kayode is insensitive, and this shows him to be guilty of the same ill he accuses others of been guilty of. Are the lives of Nigerians who are killed in air crashes now to be counted as if one was counting chicken, in order to know who had the highest casualties?
How can Fani-Kayode be this insensitive and callous?
Hear Fani-Kayode again ,this time as he blows his own trumpet: ”There were no air crashes under my watch and not one drop of blood was spilt from the air whilst I was Minister of Aviation, whether it be passenger plane, private jet, helicopter or light aircraft. I thank God for that, because if it had happened I would not have been able to sleep at night.”
He however also tells us that he was literally “paranoid” about air safety and security. What Fani-Kayode did not tell us however, is how his subsuming “paranoia” helped to prevent air crashes! Very soon, we may begin to teach paranoia in aviation and management schools as a remedy for air crashes! His statement is contradictory, giving us a glimpse into what appears to be a confused state of mind. On one hand he says “hard work” prevented air crashes, then, on the other hand, he says “there is more to the whole thing than meets the eye.” Now,he is waxing spiritual.
We also know that Fani-Kayode’s cant has not been restricted to the aviation industry.During the recent furore over the deportation of some Igbo indigenes from Lagos State,Fani-Kayode who again jumped on the argument train, regaled the Nigerian public with his scandalous tales of some prominent Igbo ladies,howbeit married women, who he had had intimate relationships with.Is this ex-minister and presidential aide so bereft of gentlemanly honour? Is Fani-Kayode so blinded by his quest for political relevance and his bizzare love for controversy that he would throw decorum to the winds?
Perhaps, we may introduce Fani-Kayode to a new line of business which should turn out to be very lucrative—an FFK secret potion for the prevention of air crashes.It also has ingredients that make it a potent aphrodisiac for FFK’s ladies.
When a lawyer with such rich pedigree can not present a coherent, reasonable argument on a simple but serious matter that is already in the public arena, then you wonder what went wrong somewhere.FFK is simply self delusional.
If Fani-Kayode was not playing to the public gallery, Princess Oduah has always, quite rightly held him in high esteem, extending to him the traditional courtesy expected to be accorded a former Aviation Minister. On that basis, one would expect that if the former minister has any advice and knowledge which he believes would help prevent air crashes in the country he would have forwarded these to the current Aviation minister.
Rather, Fani-Kayode has engaged himself in unconscionable cant,double-speak and downright self-glorification which is totally unbecoming of a former minister of Aviation or any high office holder for that matter.
Fani only spent seven months Nov 2006 to May,2007 as aviation minister yet he had become an expert in aviation.”
Mr Yakubu Dati, Director, Information and Communication, FAAN, wrote from Lagos Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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No wonder all these air crashes, people like this are heading agency for the ministry. Talking like a baby. Making no point but insultive.
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame. This is the rout we face everyday as Nigerians. People like Dati holding positions of director in big organisations in government. How would there be good communication among staff. Criticism is part of the job. My opinion is that we need more people like FFK to put our executives in order.
ReplyDeleteThe writer (Yakubu) is absolute correct. FFK with his only six months experience in aviation ministry was not enough to start talking rubbish because if we are to judge using this time limit of six months. The current minister stayed far beyond six months before any incident happened. So had Kayode stayed more than six months with his mental state. The worst aviation disaster would have happened, thank God he (Kayode) was quickly removed / sacked. The sack which I believed has made him so angry with any one working aviation minister. The president that sacked him saw the danger in keeping such a paranoidal psychopath long in ministry such as aviation boss. Nigerians ought to pray for God to stop what evil force causing this accidents and not to point fingers. Afterall facts emerging from the investigation on the latest accident has not shown anywhere the current minister defaulted. If the pilot ignored signal, I do not think she should be held responsible. May almighty God intervene and stop blood letting in Nigeria be it by Boko Haram or Accidents or whatever, in Jesus name. Amen.
ReplyDeleteYakubu, its FFK dt wants pple to die in a plane crash but ur organisation. Who will be flying air craft dt is not fit to do so, whose pilots will not heed d warning by the plane gadgets dt its not safe to fly as revealed by d black box.if U̶̲̥̅̊ do not want to b critisized,do d right thing to save souls
ReplyDeleteInsightful write up. So FFK was minister for just 7 months but anyone who read his write up on the plane crash would be made to believe he spent several years at the helm. Delusions shall never end!
ReplyDeleteMr Dati you are DIRTY as your careless Minister who knows nothing but cosmetics on her face and in our airports instead of deal with technical issues.
ReplyDeleteAs always FFK remains a fool. A fool at over 40yrs is a fool forever. No matter the intricacies in the aviation ministry leading to air crashes, truth is as a former minister of aviation; albeit for a short term he should rather have rendered any advise he thinks can help the industry instead of insults. Yeah criticism is always necessary in a democracy for growth but we need to all remember and that goes for disgruntled politicians (like FFK) as well that Nigeria comes first before any personal or self serving interest. FFK forgets that we all remember how he was a very ardent OBJ critique before being appointed by the same govt and then turned a chapter to become the mans greatest sycophant. As for me there is nothing ffk will say whether good or bad that he will ever be taken seriously on. Besides the man is yet to also account for the billions stolen under his watch but is quick to remind us that in his 6 or 7 months no lives were lost (only billions missing)
ReplyDeletekudos to FFK!!!!!
ReplyDelete