Femi Fani-Kayode, on Thursday, said the recent comment made
by Nasir El-Rufai on the Muslim-Muslim ticket does not make the former governor
of Kaduna a religious bigot or a terrorist.
Fani-Kayode threw his weight behind El-Rufai after the
former governor was captured speaking on how the Muslim-Muslim ticket helped
the APC retain power in Kaduna as well as influence President Bola Tinubu’s
victory in the 2023 presidential election.
In the video, El-Rufai, who was addressing a congregation of
Muslim clerics (In Hausa) in Kaduna, said, “We successfully did it in Kaduna
(Muslim-Muslim ticket) and it has now been replicated all over the country.”
Reacting to the criticisms directed at El-Rufai, Fani-Kayode
said critics are only jealous of the ex-governor.
The ex-minister of aviation said: “When Nasir El Rufai,
Bello Matawalle, and Yahaya Bello took President Muhammadu Buhari to court and
defeated him over the illegal and ill-fated cash grab/new notes policy they
were considered to be heroes and the entire world commended them.
“Yet sadly today, simply because he made some comments about
the Muslim/Muslim ticket before a gathering of Muslim clerics in Kaduna State
he is being demonized and labeled as a religious bigot, a terrorist, a fascist,
and an Islamist fanatic by mainly those who do not share his religious faith,
who do not know him, who have never met him and who are in a different
political party to him.
“I know a religious bigot when I see one and I assure you
that Nasir El Rufai is not one of them. Neither is he a Muslim fundamentalist,
a terrorist, a fascist, or a jihadist.
“If he were any of these things he would not be my friend
and brother and I would be the first to openly oppose and condemn him.
“If he were any of these things he would attract my contempt
rather than have my respect.
“We worked closely together when we were in President
Olusegun Obasanjo’s cabinet many years ago and we worked closely together
during the presidential campaign for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I know him
very well indeed.
“He is a down to
earth, practical, pragmatic politician who speaks his mind boldly, who is
deeply calculating and courageous, who knows and understands the game of
thrones and the art of acquiring and wielding power very well, who has no fear
of his adversaries and who is determined to do whatever it takes to win. These
are all virtues and not vices.
“The reason many denigrate him is basically out of envy and
because he has proved over and over again that he is far smarter than them.”
Fani-Kayode added that had it not been for El-Rufai,
Matawalle, and the Northern Governors of the APC there would have been no power
shift to the south.
He said: “Yet love him or hate him I will tell you this: had
it not been for him, Matawalle, and the Northern Governors of the APC there
would have been no power shift to the south, the Presidency would have remained
in the North and Atiku, not Asiwaju, would be President today.
“Again had it not been for him and Matawalle, the cabal in
the Villa that backed, empowered, protected, and encouraged Godwin Emefiele and
his Agbor Mafia and that worked so hard to stop Asiwaju from winning the
election would have prevailed.
“And of course, that is why all the forces of hell gathered
together to ensure that Matawalle lost his seat as Governor of Zamfara. That is
the price that he had to pay.
“Those that insist on launching a crusade, igniting a
religious war, and assuming the worse about El Rufai today simply because of
his comments about religion in the politics of Kaduna state would do well to
consider all this as they continue in their asinine behavior and insidious
tomfoolery.
“If there are people that ought to be regarded as the true
heroes of the struggle to make Asiwaju President El Rufai and Matawalle must be
amongst them.
“I may not agree with everything El Rufai says or does but
what a great fighter he is.
“He has both my affection and respect. He always did and he
always will.”
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Femi fani Kayode, you are really what no one can explain. Are there people still friends to this rainbow guy? What manner of a person is this? A man who speaks from both mouths is not worthy of any public office. Obasanjo made a mistake by giving him one even as he messed up and stole the funds. APC, be careful with this Fani Kayode.
ReplyDeleteThis man has no dignity
ReplyDelete