‘Your Attack On NADECO Is Crying Shame’ – Fani-Kayode Slams Peter Obi

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has said the comments by former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, about the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) were a crying shame and would not go unanswered.

Naija News reports that  Peter Obi recently labelled some of those who fought for democracy during the days of the late military dictator, General Sani Abacha, as now worse than the former military leader.

The former Governor of Anambra State, who spoke against the background of the state of democracy in Nigeria without mentioning names, said Abacha can now be viewed as more democratic than those who championed the fight for democracy and human rights during the days of NADECO.

In response, Fani-Kayode, in a post via his 𝕏 handle on Friday, accused Peter Obi of attempting to undermine the group’s role in Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggle.

He defended NADECO leaders, stating that they played a central role in resisting military rule during the regime of late Head of State, Sani Abacha, and endured imprisonment, exile and other forms of repression in the process.

Fani-Kayode said it was painful to see some former NADECO figures, including Dele Momodu and Rauf Aregbesola, align with individuals who are undermining the legacy of the pro-democracy movement.

While describing the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a defunct and unrecognised platform, Fani-Kayode slammed its National Chairman, David Mark, over his role in the events surrounding the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election won by the late businessman, MKO Abiola.

The post read, “Peter Obi’s attack on NADECO and his attempt to denigrate the leaders of that movement and it’s 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.

“I recall that he worked assidiously for General Abacha whilst our NADECO leaders and footsoldiers resisted him and were being locked up, driven into exile, subjected to the most brutal form of oppression, persecution and torture, blown to pieces with bombs and slaughtered by soldiers in the streets.

“Worse still the unrecognised and defunct Association of Destructive C*nts (ADC) of which he is a leader has a National Chairman by the name of Brigadier General David Mark (rtd) who, in 1993, said that if the winner of the June 12th 1993 election, Chief MKO Abiola, was sworn in as President he would shoot him in the head!

“It is because of people like Peter, David Mark and Abacha that the military Head of State at the time, General Ibrahim Babangida, was compelled to annul Abiola’s election after which the nation was thrown into chaos and turmoil with many innocent and defenceless Nigerians killed over the next 6 blood-soaked and terrifying years.

“What pains me the most is when I see NADECO veterans like Dele Momodu and Rauf Aregbesola in the ranks of these people who are rubbishing their past sacrifices. Imagine Rauf holding the microphone for David Mark the architect of Abiola’s woes and one of the reasons he is no longer alive today in a press conference?

“In fairness to Atiku Abubakar he opposed Abacha too but Obi was firmly in bed with him and Mark was one of the primary architects of the annulment of June 12th. The blood of all our colleagues and compatriots that were killed at that time still pains and hurts us and we shall NEVER forget them.

“That innocent blood that was spilt by the Government he supportred shall haunt Obi for the rest of his life and disqualifies him from EVER becoming President or playing a key role in the affairs of our great country again.

“Others stood, spoke out and fought like men at the time but, like the French General Vichy who betrayed his people and collaborated with the Nazis during World War 11, Peter capitulated, bowed, trembled, bent the knee, betrayed our people and collaborated with our oppressors and our collective enemy.

“Yet today he has the nerve to open his mouth and seek to denigrate those that refused to do so.”