Former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has defended his decision to return to the All Progressives Congress years after hurling insults and abuses on the party and Nigeria’s president, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).
He spoke on Channels Television programme, ‘Politics Today’, hours after his return to APC.
Asked about his verbal attacks on Buhari since 2015, Fani-Kayode said he was ignorant of the personality of Buhari.
He said, “I spoke against Buhari from the outside, now I know him from the inside. I am not saying he is an angel or a demon. The APC I was talking about at that time is not the same today. Let’s focus on unity, peace and togetherness.
“There is a time to condemn and criticise people. There is also a time to come together, work together to achieve unity.”
Though Fani-Kayode criticised Musiliu Obanikoro and others who defected earlier, his position has now changed.
Responding to a question on his comment that he would rather die than join APC, the lawyer said, “Joining APC now is the way forward, despite what people may think about it”
“APC is a liberal party. Allot has happened in APC over the years. The party has changed and President has accommodated the change. Had the APC leadership not changed I wouldn’t have joined them.
“I am doing the right thing base on conviction and understanding. This is the right decision for me, love me or hate me, it will not take anything away from me.”
Before joining APC, Fani-Kayode was a verbal opposition who outrightly criticised the Buhari led administration and the political party of which he is now a part.
Fani-Kayode defected from the PDP to APC and was received by Buhari. Kayode was led into the President’s office by the Caretaker Chairman of the APC and Governor of Yobe, Mai-Mala Buni, as well as Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara.