Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, Former Aviation Minister, has given reasons as to why he return to the All Progressives Congress years after hurling insults on the party and Nigeria’s president, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.)
The former minister during an interview on Thursday on channels TV said the leadership of APC has changed over the years, adding that the current party leadership under Buni is more accommodating.
“Let me put this to you; a lot has happened in the APC itself over the last few years. The APC I was speaking about at that time is not the APC of today. The APC of that time, I will say any day, anywhere, did not have the leadership that they have today,” he said.
“Today, you have a man who is a national chairman, caretaker committee of APC; that is governor Mai Buni, who has done exceptionally well in attracting people and presenting a broad-based, liberal, pluralistic view on national issues and national affairs.
“He has opened the door of the party to all manner of people with a plurality of views. We might not agree on everything, but certainly, there is a place for you in a wider family.
“That is the difference between that time and this time. The old leadership of APC was a very different thing and I would never have joined them, had the leadership not changed. What we have today is an accommodating party that is ready to take people in and ready to listen to dissenting opinions even from within, provided you conduct yourself in a decent manner.
“I’m telling you there may be pluralistic views here, but we all agree on one thing: that people should be treated fairly and decently, regardless of where you come from in this country, regardless of your religious faith.
“We believe passionately in that and we must not continue the narrative that we had in the past — that we must divide one another and fight one another on religious or ethnic grounds — and I’m very proud of that. The party has changed, not me.
“The party has changed and the president has been accommodating of that change, which is very gracious of him. That is why I’m where I am today, and I’m very proud to be here.”
Responding to a question on his comment that he would rather die than join APC, the lawyer said, “Joining APC now is the away forward, despite what people may think about it.
“APC is a liberal party. A lot has happened in APC over the years. The party has changed and President has accommodated the change. Had the APC leadership not changed I wouldn’t have joined them.
“I am doing the right thing based on conviction and understanding. This is the right decision for me, love me or hate me, it will not take anything away from me.”
Before joining APC, Fani-Kayode is Known as one of the outspoken oppositions in the country and he was a spokesperson for his former party, Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential campaign.