For many, it was not a shocking move but for others, it was, however, the hottest gist in Nigeria’s political circle right now is that of Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode formally dumping the opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and joining the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
FFK, as he is widely known, served as the country’s Minister of Aviation under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration and was a staunch member of the PDP before his latest defection. What is more surprising, however, is the fact that Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode had been one of the strongest critics of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
Following his defection, the former minister met with President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, September 16, 2021, at the Aso Villa in the company of the Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the APC, and governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni.
Speaking to correspondents in the State House after presenting FFK to Mr President, Buni said the President was happy with the defection of the former minister as he described it as a welcome development. He said:
“We are here to present our newest member of the party, Chief Femi Fani- Kayode to the President and leader of the party. He is the newest member of APC and we just received him in appreciation and understanding of the President’s vision and magnanimity.
“The President received him very well. The President is a leader who shares his vision and looks toward greater Nigeria, so he received him very well and commended his courage.”
Revealing why he left the opposition party, Mr. Femi said it was an instruction from God. He said his decision was solely based on the directions of the Spirit of God who has instructed him to join the APC for the unity and stability of the country.
“The point is that I felt it was time to do the right thing, to put Nigeria first and appreciate the efforts that have been made, particularly in the last couple of years in terms of security; fighting insurgency and terrorism.
“It is not always negative and when the time is right, we change direction to join forces and join hands to move the country forward.
“Doing this doesn’t mean we are enemies to anybody. Even if we are in another party, the PDP or any other party or group, we can still work together across party, regional, ethnic or religious lines.”
He has also revealed that the APC he is joining today is very much different than the one he has criticized in the past. Talking to Channels TV, he said the current set-up of the APC is “forward-thinking, and accommodating.”
He also denied claims that he defected to the APC for financial reasons.
“I find that very insulting whether it is coming from your or my critics, I am not the first person that would decamp to the APC, have you asked others this same question?”
Reacting to the defection, Engr. Dave Umahi, governor of Ebonyi State has responded to claims that the former Minister of Aviation was instrumental in his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The governor labeled the claim ‘a lie from the pit of hell’ and called FFK a liar for insinuating such. Speaking on Channels TV Sunrise Daily, Umahi said:
“For someone to come and say that a whole Chairman of the Southeast Governors Forum, that he was instrumental to my movement from PDP to APC is an insult on my person, and with all due respect, he has to withdraw that statement.
“He remains my friend and a good one for that matter, but he played no role in my movement and I am sure he didn’t play any role in the movement of the rest of us.”
In other news, Senator Shehu Sani has officially defected from the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to POLITICS NIGERIA, the move had been in the pipelines for a while now and he recently invited all the 23 local government chairmen of the PDP in Kaduna State to his residence where he met then to discuss his transition and the 2023 general elections.
One Half Of The Estranged Duo P-Square Declares Nov 30 as his new birthday
Mr P has officially moved his birthday celebration from November 18 to November 30, adding a new layer to the ongoing P-Square family feud. What began as a social media declaration has now been formalised. A few hours after announcing his intention to change his birthday date, Peter Okoye, known professionally as Mr P, has issued an open letter confirming that November 18, the date he has shared with his twin brother Paul Okoye since birth in 1981, is no longer his day of celebration.
“Dear Family, Friends, and Fans,” the post read. “I’m making it official. November 18th is no longer my birthday celebration date. Please note that I will not be accepting any messages or gifts on that day. My birthday will now be celebrated on November 30th. This is a personal decision, and I truly appreciate your understanding.”
The message is brief, but its implications are quite clear. November 18 has long been one of the last remaining public symbols of a shared identity between two brothers whose professional and personal relationship has deteriorated sharply over the past several years.
By formally reassigning the date, Peter is drawing a line that goes beyond creative differences or business disputes.
The reaction from Nigerians online has been largely sceptical.
Many have questioned the necessity of the gesture, with a significant number describing it as petty and unnecessary given the more substantive issues that have defined the brothers’ current estrangement.
The consensus among critics is that changing a birthday date does little to resolve any of the actual grievances and serves mainly as a public statement of severance.
The feud between Peter and Paul Okoye has now spanned multiple years, two official splits, a brief reunion, and a growing list of public accusations on both sides. November 30 is still months away. To see if the gesture will land as true liberation or just pettiness may depend entirely on where things stand by then.
I Took Over From Myself’: Tinubu’s Claims that He and Buhari Are ‘One’
President Bola Tinubu addressed supporters on Wednesday night in a video that was equal parts pep talk and provocation, but it was one particular line that cut through everything else and set social media alight.
Speaking to the leadership and coordinators of his Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Tinubu pushed back against the criticism that his administration inherited and worsened an already broken economy.
His defence took an unexpected turn. “This economy, I didn’t have to look back because the truth is, I took over from myself,” he said. “The late Buhari is me, he was a partner, if I took over from him, is that not from myself? So, it’s wrong? Fine. Live with it, correct it, move on.
Nigerians online did not move on, at least not immediately. The comment, which appeared to collapse the distinction between his administration and Muhammadu Buhari’s, drew a flood of reactions ranging from genuine bewilderment to sharp mockery.
For critics who have spent two years arguing that Tinubu’s government is a continuation of the same policies that drove Nigeria into economic hardship, the president had essentially handed them their argument in his own words.
The broader address, shared to his official page at 10:38 pm alongside a roughly ten-minute video, was deliberately combative.
Tinubu took aim at the opposition, dismissing the recently held ADC convention as “a street convention” and its energy as mere “rascality.”
He warned that his government would not yield to noise or disobedience of court orders, while also promising supporters that standing with him would not be a decision they would regret.
At one point, he told the ambassadors, “That is why we have told you to renew their hope”, drawing laughter from the audience. He added that for those unwilling to embrace the hope on offer, they would simply provide “eyeglasses.” It was the kind of line that plays well in a room full of loyalists and poorly everywhere else.
The overall message he tried to convey was that he would not be retreating, would not be apologising, and was not particularly interested in critics.
S.A Opposition leader Julius Malema sentenced to five years in prison over gun incident
A South African court has sentenced opposition leader Julius Malema to five years in prison after finding him guilty of illegally firing a rifle during a political rally, a ruling that could shake the country’s opposition politics.
Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), was convicted on several firearm-related charges linked to a 2018 party rally in Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape, where he was filmed firing a semi-automatic rifle into the air in front of thousands of supporters.
The court found him guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging a firearm in a built-up area, and reckless endangerment, offences that prosecutors argued posed a serious public safety risk.
During sentencing, the magistrate emphasised that public figures must respect the law and warned that celebratory gunfire could endanger lives. Prosecutors had pushed for a maximum 15-year sentence, arguing that leniency would set a dangerous precedent given Malema’s influence as a national political figure.
Malema’s legal team, however, argued that the act was symbolic and caused no harm, urging the court to impose a fine instead of prison time.
The outspoken politician has already vowed to appeal both the conviction and the sentence, insisting the case is politically motivated. If the sentence is upheld, the ruling could have major political consequences. Under South African law, a prison sentence exceeding 12 months without the option of a fine can disqualify a lawmaker from holding a parliamentary seat, potentially forcing Malema out of the National Assembly.
Malema, a former youth leader of the African National Congress before founding the EFF in 2013, has built a reputation as one of South Africa’s most controversial political figures. His party campaigns for radical economic reforms, including land redistribution without compensation and nationalisation of key industries.
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