Femi Fani-Kayode, former minister of aviation, has criticised Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, saying he will never become Nigeria’s president.
Gatekeepers News reports that Fani-Kayode’s remarks followed comments by Obi, who compared some present-day politicians that once championed pro-democracy struggles to the late military ruler Sani Abacha.
In a post on X on Friday, Fani-Kayode described Obi’s comments as “way beyond politics,” accusing him of offending the memory of those who fought against military rule.
“To mock the memory of those that died fighting for democracy in the June 12th struggle and sacrificed their lives and liberty as members of NADECO in this way is unacceptable and unforgivable. Simply put, it is despicable,” he wrote.
He added a direct political jab: “You shall NEVER become President of our nation.”
The criticism was in response to a post by Obi on Thursday, in which the former Anambra governor described it as a “historical irony” that some individuals who once fought for democracy now govern in ways worse than the dictatorship they opposed.
“What an irony of history, that the acclaimed defenders of democracy and human rights who claimed to have fought for democracy during the era of General Sani Abacha now find themselves worse than the man they opposed,” Obi wrote.
He further stated that Abacha “will be remembered as seemingly more democratic and more respectful of human rights than the so-called champions of activism from the NADECO days,” adding: “Power indeed reveals character.”
Although Obi did not name any individual, his remarks come amid tensions within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently derecognised a faction of the party’s leadership led by David Mark following a court ruling.
Opposition figures have accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of orchestrating the crisis ahead of the 2027 general elections, an allegation the ruling party has denied.
