FFK Tackles Atiku, Defends Shettima, Jonathan Over Loyalty Claims
Former Minister of Aviation and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Femi Fani-Kayode, has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his recent comments on Vice President Kashim Shettima, accusing him of inconsistency, disloyalty, and political arrogance.
In a strongly worded statement titled “With Love to Waziri,” Fani-Kayode reacted to Atiku’s remark that he would not respond to Shettima because he considered him disrespectful and less experienced.
Atiku had stated that responding to the Vice President was beneath him, citing age, experience, and northern cultural values that discourage disrespect for elders.
However, Fani-Kayode dismissed the claim, arguing that Atiku lacked the moral standing to invoke age and experience as justification for avoiding engagement.
He recalled the period between 1999 and 2007 when Atiku served as Vice President under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, alleging that Atiku openly challenged and undermined his principal during that administration.
According to him, Atiku’s refusal to respond to Shettima was not based on principle but on an inability to counter the Vice President’s position.
“The only reason you cannot answer Kashim is because you have nothing to say,” he said, adding that Shettima has demonstrated loyalty to his principal, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, unlike Atiku during his time in office.
Fani-Kayode also took issue with Atiku’s recent comments about former President Goodluck Jonathan, whom Atiku reportedly described as inexperienced.
He described the remarks as “arrogant,” insisting that Jonathan demonstrated exemplary leadership qualities, including loyalty, humility, and a commitment to democratic values.
He further highlighted Jonathan’s decision to concede defeat in the 2015 presidential election as a defining moment in Nigeria’s democratic history, noting that such conduct should be commended rather than criticised.
The APC chieftain warned that dismissive remarks about past leaders could distort historical records and undermine national cohesion.
Fani-Kayode also criticised Atiku’s political trajectory, accusing him of prioritising personal ambition over party loyalty. He cited Atiku’s movements across political parties and alleged role in internal divisions within opposition platforms as evidence of inconsistency.
Turning to current political developments, he challenged Atiku’s position within the African Democratic Congress, suggesting that internal disagreements and public statements could weaken the party ahead of future elections.
He further dismissed Atiku’s concerns about the Independent National Electoral Commission, describing allegations of electoral manipulation as baseless and potentially harmful to national stability.
Fani-Kayode cautioned political actors against making inflammatory statements that could incite tension, urging Atiku to embrace democratic principles and accept electoral outcomes in good faith.
He concluded by advising the former Vice President to adopt humility in his political engagements, warning that continued reliance on rhetoric without broad-based support could undermine his ambitions in future elections.
The remarks come amid heightened political exchanges among leading figures across party lines as Nigeria gradually approaches the 2027 general elections.
By TopHeadlines