NADECO: ‘I m pained, Obi’s comment won’t go unanswered’ — Fani-Kayode

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has criticised Mr Peter Obi over his remarks on the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, accusing him of attempting to undermine the role of the group in Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggle.

In a statement posted on X on Friday, Fani-Kayode said Obi’s comments about NADECO were “a crying shame” and would not go unanswered.

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 also alleged that Obi supported the Abacha regime at the time, while NADECO members were actively opposing it.

The former minister further criticised the African Democratic Congress, ADC, describing it as a defunct and unrecognised platform, and took aim at its National Chairman, David Mark, over his role in the events surrounding the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by late businessman, MKO Abiola.

He linked both Obi and Mark to the political crisis that followed the annulment, which occurred under the administration of former military Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida.

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

“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.

‘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?,” part of his statement read.