Fani-Kayode Returns to APC, Woos Makinde, Ugwuanyi, Mohammed to Ruling Party

*Says spirit of God led him to defect

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

A former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, Thursday, left the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and returned to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), attributing his decision to the guidance of the spirit of God.
The former minister, who was a member of the APC in its formative years, however, expressed his readines to woo three serving PDP governors to the ruling party in a matter of time.

Fani-Kayode, who spoke with newsmen at the State House, Abuja after being formally presented to President Muhammadu Buhari as the newest member of APC by the party’s National Caretaker Committee Chairman and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, said he waited this long to return to APC, because he was waiting for God’s direction “which has now come”.
He explained that he joined the APC to help work for the unity of the country, adding that he was against anything that would cause disintegration of Nigeria.

Fani-Kayode boasted that he was instrumental to the exit of three PDP governors to the APC namely, Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, Ben Ayade of Cross River State and Bello Matawale of Zamfara State.
He further disclosed that he has friends across party lines and was currently wooing the governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde and the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed to also defect to the ruling party.

His words: “If you ask my friend and brother, Governor Matawale here, there are many people within the PDP, who do want to come over to the APC, I can tell you that, I was there and very instrumental when Governor Umahi joined the APC.
“I was there and very instrumental when Governor Ayade did the same thing. I was there and very instrumental when my friend and brother governor of Zamfara, Governor Matawale did the same thing.

“There are many others, some of the most remarkable men in this country are still within the ranks of the PDP, it’s our job to try to win them over. Now, if you don’t mind me mentioning names, somebody like the governor of Enugu State, the governor Oyo State, and of course, my good friend, the governor of Bauchi State, great friends of mine, and I sincerely hope that they too may end up coming in this direction.”

The former spokesman of former President Goodluck Jonathan presidential campaign in 2015 said he believed Nigerians must recognise that there are two more years for Buhari’s administration and that people should come together to make sure they survived it.

Bearing in mind what he had said in the past about the government in power, Fani-Kayode said the only thing that is constant in life is change and that he should not be held for what he had said in the past.
According to him, Nigerians must come together to make sure the country was a better place and work together, regardless of party affiliation.
He said though he had friends in his former party, whatever they say, whatever they choose to say, is entirely their business.

Asked why the choice of APC, he retorted: “Why not? The point is that I felt that this was the appropriate time to do the right thing, to put Nigeria first, and to appreciate the efforts that have been made, particularly, in the last couple of years in terms of security, fighting insurgency, fighting terrorism, and most importantly, is the appreciation of the fact that we must remain one as a nation, build bridges, work together to move the country forward.
“The efforts of the governor of Yobe State, the governor of Zamfara State, and several others, including the governor of Kogi and several others in their respective states and in moving this country forward and helping Mr. President move this country forward, cannot be ignored.

“We need to appreciate the fact that when we see that there are good things that are happening, we appreciate those good things, it’s not always negative and when the time is right, we change direction to join forces and join hands to move the country forward.

“Doing this doesn’t mean we’re enemies to anybody. All of us, even if we’re in another party, the PDP or any other party or any other group, can still work together across party lines, regional lines, ethnic lines, and religious lines, the most important thing is for us to understand and appreciate the fact that Nigeria must not disintegrate and those that want us to end up fighting one another in a war will be put to shame.

“There are people that think like that and that is what informed me to come here to meet Mr. President. He was very gracious, he was very good to me today, spoke so well and it’s an honour for me to be here and we will move the country forward together. “

On how he thought the PDP would receive the news of his defection, Fani-Kayode said, “Well, that’s left to them. I have many friends in the PDP. If you remember, in 2013, I was one of those that formed the APC, there were a few issues and I went back to PDP, but I think it’s an individual thing. As a party, of course, they may not be too happy, but I have no enemies there and I have nothing negative to say about anybody there.

“I believe in moving the country forward together with everybody that believes in Nigeria and wants Nigeria to progress and I also believe that we must recognise the fact that there are two more years for this administration or thereabouts.
“We must come together to make sure we survive it, we must come together to make sure Nigeria is a better place and we must work together, regardless of party affiliations, but whatever they say, whatever they choose to say, is entirely up to them. I have many friends there, let’s hope that they don’t feel too bad about it. We’re all Nigerians.

“The most important thing is that we work together as a people, as a country, and move our country together and fight and kill the terrorists and put to shame the foreign elements and I emphasise that word, foreign elements, that want us to end up fighting one another in this country and turning our country into a massive refugee camp.”

On what he would say to those who would criticize him for criticizing the APC in the past, he said, “I’ll say that the only constant thing in life is change. You can’t hold me to what I’ve said in the past if circumstances change and I will always bow to superior argument and logic.
“For me, the primary cause today and let me say this, there’s no way I will renege on my fundamental core values and principles, anybody that knows me will tell you that.

“I believe in certain things; how the country should be moved forward. I will fight for that from within this party to ensure it’s done. I believe in fairness and equity. But the most important thing for us today is we must not allow our country to fall apart based on disagreement and misunderstanding amongst one another.

“I’ve recognised the fact that we’re very close to war, a lot of people don’t know this and God forbid we should go into that. We should come together, build it. If they criticise me for that, it’s their right to do so.
“I don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings, but I’ve made a choice, I believe I’ve been led by the Spirit of God and I will fight and fight for what I believe is right within this party as I would anyway. I will never give up on my core values and principles.”

Earlier, Buni said he came to present Fani-Kayode to the President and leader of the party.
He described him as the newest member of APC, adding that, “We just received him and in appreciation and understanding of Mr. President’s vision, and magnanimity.”
When asked how President Buhari received the new party member, Buni said, “He received him very well and, you know, Mr. President is a magnanimous leader, who shares his vision with anybody, who is looking towards greater Nigeria. So, he’s happy and he received him very well. He commended his courage.”