Former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, has defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
He was presented to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), by the Chairman, Caretaker Committee of APC, and governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
FFK joined the ruling party months after romancing around with APC governors, including defending some of ministers and Federal Government’s policies.
“Today at the State House, Abuja: Somebody has come and joined the APC. And a large-hearted and magnanimous President received him. Because that’s the essential Buhari for you,” a presidential aide, Tolu Ogunlesi, posted on Facebook attaching pictures of FFK and his boss.
The former chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party said “the Spirit of God” led him to taking a decision to join the ruling party.
The former minister said he would be assisting to build unity in the country.
He also claimed to be instrumental to the defection of some PDP governors and hinted that more opposition governors are being wooed.
Before joining APC, Fani-Kayode is one of the prominent opposition voices in the country.
He was a former spokesman for PDP Presidential Campaign Council.
Speaking to State House correspondents after Kayode’s presentation, Buni quoted the President as describing the defection of Kayode to APC as a welcome development, saying that the president was pleased that the former minister had joined the APC.
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.”
Fani-Kayode, who also spoke to the correspondents, said he believed that it was time for him to cross over to join hands with the President in moving Nigeria forward.
He said, “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 said.
