Femi Fani-Kayode, the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says he would not be intimidated by a “veiled threat of a visa suspension” after Ben Llewellyn-Jones, the British envoy to Nigeria, called some of his remarks before the general election “inciting.”
Fani-Kayode stated on his Twitter page on Sunday that he would not take instructions from the British envoy on “what to say or how to speak.”
Fani-Kayode is also the director of new media for the APC presidential campaign council.
Earlier, Llewellyn-Jones had criticised the APC leader’s several remarks.
Some of the former minister’s tweets about the opposition used insulting, polarising, and inciting language.
The deputy high commissioner reported that ten individuals had been added to the UK immigration ban’s increasing watchlist.
Fani-Kayode responded to the British envoy’s statements by stating that he was “not one of those Nigerians that bows, shakes, shivers, or trembles before the British or any other foreigner.”
Fani-Kayode wrote, “Nigeria ceased to be a British colony 63 years ago, and we need no lessons from him on how to manage our affairs or conduct our politics.”
“Who the hell does he think he is? I am not one of those Nigerians that genuflects, trembles and shakes before the British or any other foreigner. And unlike others, I do not require validation or support from him or his ilk, nor can I be scared by his disguised visa restriction threat. I honestly could not care less.
“We will not accept lessons from a British public official on politeness, decorum, what to say, or how to speak. Regarding the politics of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I encourage this Englishman to maintain his dignity and remain a silent observer. As a nation, we are not the British’s lapdog, and we reached adulthood 63 years ago.”
