By Dele Sobowale
“Politicians are their own grave diggers”, Will Rogers, 1879-1935.
(VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, p191).
(VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, p191).
When Femi Fani-Kayode took to politics, he embarked on a treacherous journey which had caused his father ruination because he could have been Nigeria’s most celebrated lawyer – if he had kept to his learned profession. Chief Remi Fani-Kayode, was the country’s youngest Queen’s Counsel, QC – the equivalent of today’s Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN. But, sadly, neither his proficiency in law nor his unfortunate foray into politics is remembered by most people. Pity. Among other things he talked tough and was widely known as Fani Power.
Prior to his appointment as Special Adviser to Obasanjo, Femi, like others whose names don’t deserve to soil this page, had been critical of Obasanjo in the articles they sent to the media. Nobody would have imagined that he would walk the same side of the road with Obasanjo.
Everything changed when Akin Osuntokun was appointed the Media Director for the Obasanjo/Atiku re-election campaign for 2003. Osuntokun went out to recruit a lot of erudite people – almost all were previously known to have been highly critical of Obasanjo. Femi was one of them. His reward, after the election was the Appointment as Special Adviser – a position he held with the vehemence expected of someone with that brand name. Later, he got another plum job as Minister of Aviation. Then the nation saw the real Femi in action.
FEMI FANI KAYODE
Among the attributes his son, Femi Fani-Kayode had inherited, is talking tough when he thinks he is well-protected and then pleading for understanding and mercy when cornered by superior forces. Most Nigerians cannot remember what happened in 2006 – when Femi Fani-Kayode was nominated by Obasanjo for Ministerial appointment. Prior to that selection, the fellow, as Presidential Adviser, had insulted virtually all the members of the National Assembly, as well as others, too numerous to mention – who dared to criticize President Obasanjo. Fearing that he might be rejected by the Senate, Fani-Kayode, who called himself “the President’s armor bearer”, literally went on his knees to beg the lawmakers for forgiveness. The shameless episode was captured in my Sunday article in June 2006, titled PRESIDENT’S MACHO MAN SURRENDERS. Below is a short excerpt from the 2006 article published on this page. Cowardice must have been one of the things Femi inherited – obviously. Read it now and enjoy yourself. It will come out fully in a book of my columns, written in the last twenty years, which I am now compiling, because it reveals Femi Fani-Kayode in his true colours.
PRESIDENT’ MACHO MAN SURRENDERS DELE SOBOWALE
“ I have no apologies to offer to anyone”.
Femi Fani-Kayode, Special Adviser to President Obasanjo after a vicious attack on Wole Soyinka and others.
“ I have no apologies to offer to anyone”.
Femi Fani-Kayode, Special Adviser to President Obasanjo after a vicious attack on Wole Soyinka and others.
It was like the fight of the century to be staged by the World Wrestling Federation, WWF, between Macho Man, the man who would do anything to win a fight and a newly invigorated challenger now called the Indestructible Man represented by the Senate of Nigeria. Everyone expected a “knock him down and drag him out” battle. There would be no quarter asked and none given “and the devil take the hindmost” as my friend, Joe Kowalski, in Boston used to call those brawls he was always getting into in the Combat Zone. Joe Kowalski was the sort of guy Femi Fani-Kayode would have liked before he suddenly became a “born again”. Kowalski was also the fellow who left the world with the everlasting words: “There is no dispute that a punch in the nose cannot fix”. Femi Fani-Kayode, the Obasanjo government’s ultimate Macho Man – he called himself “the President’s armour bearer” – was going to meet a feisty Senate for confirmation of his nomination by the President as Minister. The man who rushed in where both angels and fools fear to thread was going into the ring against people who had several reasons for wanting to split his blood.
Last week, I had pleaded with the Senators to be very lenient with Macho Man. And when a Senator friend first called me it was to confirm that the hearings would proceed on schedule, I asked how it would go. His answer was unambiguous: “If Femi comes out smoking he would be carried out on a stretcher; otherwise we no longer have any interest in him”. Good enough. But, would Macho Man live up to his billings and come out fighting?
Well, for those who were expecting an epic battle, it was a great disappointment. Macho Man threw in the towel even before the first punch was landed. My friend had called me the day before the confrontation that this was what would happen. But, I didn’t believe him. It was unlike Femi Fani-Kayode to surrender without a fight. As it turned out, the Senator was right. The President’s armour bearer had thrown away shield, spear, sword and everything days before and had been waving the white flag of surrender even before he entered the Senate chambers. The man who punctuated every insult he dished out at the height of the President’s powers with “I have no apologies” could read the hand writing on the wall. Suddenly he was apologising to anyone and everyone, including those who did not request for it. The President could no longer provide the protection that an armourer needed to perform his duties. Femi was left totally defenceless. That forced him to reach for the only sure protection on earth – God’s help.
Last week I ended the column with the hope that he had learnt his lessons. This week, I will close with two observations from Yoruba proverbs translated as best as I can into English. The first says: “B’aja ba nsinwin a m’oju ina” meaning “Even a mad dog avoids fire”. The second is related in some way. That says: “T’omode ba de ibi eru, eru a ba” meaning that “Fear grips any kid who confronts possible destruction”. Now Femi knows what Gustave Flaubert, 1812-1880, was driving at when he said: “ A man in a suit of armour [ when others are defenceless ] does not need to be brave”. When the chips are down most men are cowards. He needs not be ashamed that he surrendered.
Last week I ended the column with the hope that he had learnt his lessons. This week, I will close with two observations from Yoruba proverbs translated as best as I can into English. The first says: “B’aja ba nsinwin a m’oju ina” meaning “Even a mad dog avoids fire”. The second is related in some way. That says: “T’omode ba de ibi eru, eru a ba” meaning that “Fear grips any kid who confronts possible destruction”. Now Femi knows what Gustave Flaubert, 1812-1880, was driving at when he said: “ A man in a suit of armour [ when others are defenceless ] does not need to be brave”. When the chips are down most men are cowards. He needs not be ashamed that he surrendered.
I wish Femi all the best as a Minister even if he deprived me of a chance to watch the drama from a ring side seat.
ELDERLY PEOPLES DAY: CLEBRATE THE AGED
The Elderly Peoples Day declared by the United Nations falls on October 1 every year. That is Nigeria’s Independence Day. To avoid a clash, the organizers of this year’s day have shifted the event to Tuesday, October 21, 2014. Sponsors, speakers and well-wishers are needed.
The Elderly Peoples Day declared by the United Nations falls on October 1 every year. That is Nigeria’s Independence Day. To avoid a clash, the organizers of this year’s day have shifted the event to Tuesday, October 21, 2014. Sponsors, speakers and well-wishers are needed.
Remember the aged. They brought us into the world.
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