Festus Keyamo: The Man Died

I got a terse message during the week – Leave Keyamo alone. He put his name – Feyissetan Akeeb Kareem. Now I do not know if it is his real name and I sincerely wish it is his real name so I can tell him and Nigerians why I have been so harsh on Keyamo.

You see, Keyamo started very strongly as a rights activist. He made a lot of noise o and caused so much wahala in positioning not only his views but himself. We followed him and believed in him. His peak was suing the present president who was governor at the time on his educational qualifications. He was the champion of the masses and a worthy potential successor to the iconic Gani Fawehinmi.

Then he had a Saul of Tarsus moment and fell off his donkey. His case was really bad o. Worse than Saul who later became Paul. He still remained Festus after falling off the donkey but his positions and carriage were now very very much like Balak.

My brother, I have watched Keyamo as a former fan and devotee with tears in my heart. People change course in life no doubt, but this one is just too much. Going against very strong principles, cold facts and strident positions is fearful and worrisome.

Moving very dizzyingly from one extreme position to the other in less than 10 years? It’s crazy to say the least. As I watched him apologise the other day at the Senate, I bowed my head in resignation. That apology marked the very lowest in public service, the final crash of integrity in a man and as the great Prof Wole Soyinka said, “The man died.”