Femi Fani Kayode is surely a man to be envied, else, how can a man other than president Buhari trend back to back and continuously. Imagine that after a week of defecting from PDP to APC he is still making waves. Usually such news at best will get a 3-day traction and then fizzle out, but not that of FFK, it seems the story gets more thrilling by the day.
For example, governor Ayade of Cross River and Mattawale of Zamfara also defected not so long ago, these defections created a kind of storm, but an elitist storm we must say. Much of the outcry from these governors’ defections was from the political leadership circle, a tussle between the two main parties; APC and PDP. FFK’s defection on its part has generated a general reaction and wow-moment that shocked everyone – surprising but not so surprising.
FFK has been repeatedly accused of being a serial betrayal and not standing for one course faithfully. The current issues have to do with how he loudly supported Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Igboho who are currently in government’s detention, only to turn around and become friend with the government. But on a closer look, maybe he has found a secret to life that others are yet to understand; that there is no battle of men worth his total commitment as the question of right and wrong continue to change with perception.
You may begin to wonder why FFK has continued to generate such interest. Is he beyond an ordinary politician? Does his presence in a party assure that party of say 70,000 votes even without campaign? Or rather, is his single vote worth a fortune or magic in itself?
No doubt, FFK has cut a space for himself in the political space of Nigeria since and even before the reintroduction of democratic rule in 1999. He was the national youth leader of NNC in 1989. In 1990, he served as Chief Press Secretary to Chief Tom Ikimi, the first national chairman of the National Republican Convention (NRC) and in 1991 as Special Assistant to Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi, former head of the Nigerian Security Organisation (NSO). These are just few of his early strides in the corridor of power.
He was appointed as the first ever Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria during Obasanjo’s second tenure in 2003. Later he served as minister of culture and tourism from where he moved to serve as minister of aviation.
One thing is sure; there is something – a treasure – which FFK has that makes him the darling of party politics, the media and Nigerians, and that is his speech with a blending charming charisma. It is difficult to point out to projects or great innovations he has done while in power in different capacities.
By the way, has there ever been an incidence where a political party refuses to grant membership to someone. It will be very rear if ever this has happened. FFK is just like us and every other politician who has served and is serving in Nigeria.
He is like a middle man who has nothing to sell nor peace to broker but a fragranced robe to keep the air busy.
He is like a wildcard in a theater, sitting as a spectator and yet in the main cast.
Surely, FFK has been venerated and vilified for different reasons by the same people. Flirtatious loyalty is a challenge which any romantic man, especially those with poor self control will face. The main problem he has is the way he tongue-lashes journalists who are only doing their jobs by asking him questions which he could do well to answer smartly. He did it last year to the Daily Trust reporter which generated a lot of heated reactions for which he had to apologize. He did it again last week to the Channels personnel.
If he continues like this and the media decides a blackout on him, he would have lost the garden that nourishes him.
