BOKO HARAM ENTERS LAGOS.....
Fani-Kayode’s Call For Secession Sparks Outrage
A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, is currently at the centre of a raging controversy ignited by his recent call – which was made on Facebook – for the creation of the Oduduwa Republic.
Claiming to be representing the interest of the Yoruba, he said that Nigeria had “lost it all” and as a result, there was no going back on the creation of a new country for the ethnic group.
Fani-Kayode urged Nigerians in other geo-political zones not to be afraid of secession. He then went on to declare that he was ready to lay down his life for the sake of Nigeria’s disintegration.
“I am weary of a 100-year-old forced marriage that is clearly not working. It is not a crime to call for self determination. Yet, we will eventually take our freedom by force, if it is not freely given to us. We shall take it by fire; by the shedding of blood and by our own bleeding, if necessary. We will take it by fire and by sacrificing our lives, if that is what we are forced to do. Give me Oduduwa or let me die,” he wrote on Facebook.
The former minister and presidential spokesman said he would not be perturbed if war breaks out in the country as he had handled various sophisticated weapons in the past.
He described his views on the creation of Oduduwa Republic as a patriotic call, adding that there was nothing irresponsible about it.
“For the Yoruba, I have showed and proved my love for them on many occasions by standing up for them when others ran away. I assure you that I have handled more weapons than you can possibly imagine, including AK47s and I have seen people get killed,” he said, on Twitter.
But, despite his explanation, Fani-Kayode appears to have been singled out for criticism. Many online commentators accused him of fanning the embers of war. They berated him for failing to believe in a new and rejuvenated Nigeria, adding that what the country needed most were prayers and selfless service from the leadership and people rather than words that were capable of causing division.
A respondent, Wole Akinyeye, described Fani-Kayode as an epitome of confusion as well as a “misguided, unstable and desperate political jobber.”
Akinyeye urged the Yoruba to discountenance the former minister’s call for the creation of Oduduwa Republic.
“Nigeria may be down, but those of us who know the mind of God concerning her cannot be moved by the eloquence of Femi Fani-Kayode who wants pockets of unviable and disjointed nations out of Nigeria. We had better face the task of nation building and forget Fani-Kayode and his cohorts,” Akinyeye said on Facebook
An MBA student at Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University, a French public university, Tine Achii, observed that Fani-Kayode’s call for Nigeria’s split is borne out of his craze for power and search for political relevance.
According to him, the present state of the Nigerian nation calls for patriotism from the citizenry just as he counseled that former public office holders in the standing of Fani-Kayode should exude love for humanity and peace.
“This is not a time to start beating war drums because when Nigeria survives these trying times and comes back stronger than ever, you will be ashamed of yourself. Remember that all your write-ups are being recorded and can be used against you in the future,” Achii noted.
For Peter Akpenka, Fani-Kayode’s take on the Nigerian polity is a disservice to the nation that has contributed so much to him in terms of resources as a public office holder.
Asking him to desist from being “divisive,” Akpenka said Nigerians from all walks of life must be wary of the person of Fani-Kayode.
“This is poisonous venom couched in seemingly patriotic but casuistic language, meant to divisive especially when an unwary reader comes into contact with this.
“True nationalists are known in times of challenges like this. Abandoning the ship at the slightest threat is a disservice to the nation and service to the enemies of the nation,” Akpenka said on Facebook.
However, a few Nigerians pitched their tent with Fani-Kayode. One of them was Kano-based Kayode Ajayi who pledged his support for the creation of Oduduwa Republic.
“We shall continue to solicit your support and strategise for Oduduwa nation, whether they like it or not.” Ajayi wrote in a Facebook post.
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