My Visit To Jonathan Not About Dumping APC But About Principle, Says Fani-Kayode

A former Minister of Aviation and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has decried the speculations surrounding his visit on Tuesday to the Presidential Villa, where he met with President Goodluck Jonathan behind closed doors.

Following his refusal to disclose what transpired behind closed doors between him and the president, the social media was awash with reports that Mr. Fani-Kayode had finally dumped his party, APC, for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of which he was once a member.

In a statement on his Facebook page, the former minister noted that while the interview he granted State House correspondents were ‘very clear’ and words carefully chosen, he would speak no further on the matter until he is ready to do so.

In the statement, Mr. Fani-Kayode, a vocal critic of the Jonathan administration, recalled that high-ranking members of the opposition had visited the State House without their loyalty to the party being called to question and wondered why his own was treated differently, saying “people should get real and stop speculating”.

“A few days ago all the APC governors from the south west were in the State House where they held a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan. What they discussed has not been made public until now. Does that make them PDP governors? The Presidency belongs to every Nigerian irrespective of religious and political persuasions.

“Again General [Muhammadu] Buhari was recently honoured by the same President Jonathan during the centenary celebration which the APC did not support. Does that mean he has joined the PDP? Again the ongoing Federal Government confab has some APC chieftains participating in it despite the fact that the party is against it. Does that mean that they have left the APC? People should get real and stop speculating”, he said.
Stressing that his visit had nothing to do with his intention to change political camp, Fani-Kayode said it was about principles and urged the national leadership of the APC to urgently address fears within its fold that the party was planning to field a Muslim/Muslim joint ticket for the 2015 presidential elections.

His words: “This is not about leaving parties but about principle. Let us hope that the leadership of the APC sees fit to clarify this matter at the soonest and assure us all that they will do no such thing. Their silence on the matter and their refusal to rule it out is simply fuelling more and speculation and dissent from within”.