I Have The Right Just Like Any Other Nigerian To Visit The President—Femi Fani-Kayode

Former Aviation Minister Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, was at the Presidential Villa to see President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday (8th April 2014).

He was in the president's office for about an hour. Thereafter, the astute politician told curious State House correspondents that “I won't go into what I discussed in there.” Chief Fani-Kayode disclosed that he had the right just like any other Nigerian to visit the Presidential Villa.

The former aviation minister and Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to former presdient, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo noted, however, that the best way to resolve disagreements was for the parties involved to meet, discuss and move the nation forward. He said: “This is a Presidential Villa, the president is a president of Nigeria, every single person in this country that is a Nigerian is entitled to come here from time to time when the doors are open, to come and pay their respect to the wonderful people that are here. As a Nigerian, I have done that today and I'm delighted to be here.”

Speaking on his perception of the president, Fani-Kayode said “I have always believed that every Nigerian, regardless of the side of the political divide they belong, and as a Nigerian myself, I have believed that we disagree on issues from time to time. “The most important thing is for us to be able to resolve these issues and come together to move this country forward. And I think every right thinking and responsible person should be able to do that. They should also be able to come to the Villa from time to time and see how they can help to move the country forward.”

Asked whether his visit was part of his plans to dump the All Progressives Congress (APC), Fani-Kayode said, “The step that I will take will be made known to Nigerians at the right time. “The most important thing and I think you are fully aware of this, is that I cannot and I will not be associated with a situation whereby any group of people is promoting a religion above another.

“I think all of us have gone past the stage of religious politics in this country. We must treat the Muslim community with utmost respect and we must treat the Christian community in the same way and even the non-religious.”

A confidant of this fearless and irrepressible politician told the press that FFK may dump APC and join his friend Governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko in Labour Party. It would be recalled that both Mimiko and Fani-Kayode served in the cabinet of President Obasanjo as Ministers.