Femi Fani-Kayode responded sharply on Friday after Peter Obi posted comments about the National Democratic Coalition. Fani-Kayode accused Obi of denigrating leaders who fought military rule in the 1990s. He described the remarks as a crying shame that would not go unanswered.
Peter Obi, the former Labour Party presidential candidate, shared a post on social media on Thursday. He stated that some who paraded themselves as defenders of democracy and human rights during the pro-democracy struggle had become worse than the man they opposed.
Obi added, “Today, General Sani Abacha, once presumed face of oppression, will be remembered as seemingly more democratic and more respectful of human rights than the so-called champions of activism from the NADECO days.” He concluded, “Yesterday defenders of democracy, today’s destroyers, what a shame.”
Femi Fani-Kayode, Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to Germany, posted his reaction on X. He declared, “Peter Obi’s attack on NADECO and his attempt to denigrate the leaders of that movement and its members who single-handedly fought military rule and made the ultimate sacrifice for democracy in our country is a crying shame and shall not go unanswered.”
He warned Obi to keep NADECO out of his mouth or face consequences. Fani-Kayode added, “I would advise him to keep NADECO out of his foul, irreverent and disrespectful mouth or we will take him to the cleaners.”
Fani-Kayode recalled that Obi worked assiduously for General Sani Abacha while NADECO members resisted the regime. He noted that NADECO leaders endured imprisonment, exile, torture, bombings and killings. “Many of us were in NADECO, and we are living witnesses to what happened,” Fani-Kayode stated.
He stressed that the blood of those killed still pained the veterans and that they would never forget them. Fani-Kayode insisted that such history disqualified Obi from ever becoming president.
