From ‘Yanju Uwala, Abeokuta
Barring any last minute suprises, former Minister of Aviation, Chief
Femi Fani-Kayode, who recently defected to the All Progressives
Congress (APC) from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may
emerge as the National Publicity Secretary of the ruling party at its
next national convention slated between November/December this year.
It was learnt that the former minister has been confirmed to have
earned an automatic waiver even as a pro-north political pressure
think tank has secretly made Fani-Kayode its National Coordinator
ahead of the 2023 presidential race.
The former minister was presented to President Muhammadu Buhari in Aso
Rock by the chairman, APC Extraordinary and Convention Planning
Committee, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni and the Governor of Zamfara State,
Bello Matawalle.
It was gathered that the plot to install Fani-Kayode as party
spokesperson is a later thought and it is coming amid reports that one
of the conditions given by the former minister to join the party was
that he should be positioned “strategically” to play a crucial role
ahead of the 2023 general elections.
It was unclear as at press time, where the various positions in the
National Working Committee of the APC would be zoned ahead of the
national convention.
It was, however, gathered that a trusted member of the president’s
kitchen cabinet (a serving minister) and three northern governors are
behind the plot to impose Fani-Kayode.
A source close to one of the governors in the know of the plot
confided that already, the Osun State governor, Gboyega Oyetola, has
been contacted to clear the way for the emergence of Fani-Kayode as a
national delegate in order for him to be eligible to contest the
position at the national convention.
The source said: “From all indications, the real game appears to have
commenced with Fani- Kayode on board because it is likely to change a
lot of things.
“Our narrative will change with regards to party image. We know those
who are sponsoring all those negative things about the man regarding
what happened on Thursday; they never expected it. It came like
thunder on them. Whether we like him or not, there are certain
qualities Fani-Kayode possesses that can be positively deployed
especially in terms of perception and image building.
“One of the areas where our party had faltered before his defection to
us was media and public affairs management, which we believe he can
best manage as we approach 2023.
“You all know that the opposition PDP is planning to heap a lot of
lies on us and we are ready to face them with facts in a more decent
and coordinated manner that cannot be relegated to second position.
Fani-Kayode is up to the task.
“So, there is nothing wrong in bringing him on board to salvage a
situation at hand because he fits it honestly.
“Even though we are aware he is just a new joiner, our NEC decision on
waiver for fresh members has automatically cleared Fani-Kayode.
Already, we are working on the governor of his home state to see what
could be done to make him a national delegate so that he can be made
our national spokesperson at the November convention,” he said.
