Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), praised British envoy Ben Llewellyn-Jones for naming Femi Fani-Kayode, the Director of New Media for the Bola Tinubu Campaign Organisation, as one of those who made inciting remarks.
The Special Assistant on Public Media to Atiku Abubakar, Phrank Shaibu, stated in a statement released on Sunday that the Directorate of State Services (DSS) should invite Fani-Kayode because his speech might set the country ablaze.
According to Shaibu, Fani-assertion Kayode’s that he would render Nigeria unruly if Tinubu is not inaugurated as president on May 29, 2023, was outrageous and warrants the Department of State Services’ attention (DSS).
But, Atiku’s adviser remarked that the UK’s Deputy High Commissioner deserves special praise for pointing out that Fani-Kayode was making incendiary remarks and that his boss, Tinubu, should have warned him.
“We recognise as timely the DSS’s statement urging lawmakers not to overheat the political climate. “But, the security agency should arrest Fani-Kayode for ignoring the DSS’s advice when he threatened to make Nigeria unruly,” he said.
“When Fani-Kayode falsely claimed that Atiku was organising a coup in January, the DSS invited him and instructed him to report regularly. But for whatever reason, he has continued to spew hatred without restraint. Recently, he even defended the attacks and profiling of the Igbo during the just concluded Lagos State governorship election. Moreover, he has vowed to render the country unruly if Tinubu is not sworn in.
“I believe this is an appropriate moment to tell the DSS that Femi Fani-Kayode has reverted to his old ways. Today, he is threatening fire and brimstone over a highly disputed election that Nigerians have refused to endorse or celebrate one full month after the mass disenfranchisement of voters.
“Fani-Kayode is threatening to render Nigeria unruly if Tinubu is not inaugurated on May 29, 2023. It is time to take in Fani-Kayode so that he does not further inflame the already explosive national tension.”
According to Shaibu’s employees, the Nigeria Police Force continued to provide cover for Fani-Kayode and was frequently utilised to intimidate individuals.
He queried why Fani-Kayode continued to move with strong protection notwithstanding an order from the Inspector-General of Police that only individuals holding political offices should move with police escorts.
Although Nigeria is woefully underpoliced, over 40 percent of its police are assigned to VIPs and unauthorised persons, according to Atiku’s aide. With 350,000 to 370,000 people for a population of 200 million, it cannot achieve the United Nations’ recommendation of a 340:100,000 police-to-citizen ratio, leaving it highly ineffectual at combating crime.
“Yet, Fani-Kayode, who has not held a political office since 2007 when he was Aviation Minister, travels in a convoy with blaring sirens. These security personnel, whether uniformed or not, must be removed immediately. He merely utilises the security to maintain his self-importance delusion. He is engaging in posturing with state-owned security people, which is insufficient for the rest of us.
“The likes of former Vice-President Namadi Sambo, former Head of State Yakubu Gowon, and ex-Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Olusegun Obasanjo do not have as many security personnel as FFK, and this is what fuels his sense of self-importance.”
Atiku’s adviser continued, “Fani-Kayode is infamous for his explosive and impulsive behaviour. This individual publicly threatened a journalist who had asked an innocent inquiry. The Nigeria Union of Journalists banned the obstinate former minister correctly.”