IBADAN, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Former Aviation Minister and Director of New Media for the Bola Tinubu campaign, Femi Fani-Kayode (FFK), has said those against the ambition of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate should go ahead and “jump into the lagoon.”
“Our next President is Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Mr Fani-Kayode said. “If you like it, clap for yourself. If you do not like it please go to Apapa and jump in the lagoon.”
Long before Fani-Kayode made this statement in a Facebook post on Friday, Tinubu, who would be up against Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and a host of other candidates in next year’s general elections, had once said that supporters of the LP would “labour to death.”
A substantial number of Peter Obi supporters are made up of Igbos.
Fani-Kayode’s lagoon comment evokes voter suppression fears as witnessed during the 2019 general election in parts of Lagos State that are predominantly dominated by the Igbos.
His comments are reminiscent of those of the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, during the 2015 governorship election in the state, when he threatened to drown voters of Igbo extraction into the Lagos lagoon if they refused to vote for the APC candidate.
The traditional ruler was speaking during a visit by Ndigbo community leaders in the state, a few days to the 2015 governorship election, considered a two-horse race between Akinwumi Ambode of the APC and Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Oba Akiolu had threatened that “If anyone of you (Igbos) goes against Akin Ambode that I picked, that is your end. I tell you in the name of God… If anyone of you, I swear in the name of God, goes against my wish that [APC candidate] Ambode will be the next governor of Lagos state, the person is going to die inside this water.”
FFK’s comment has garnered reactions from Nigerians on Twitter.
A tweep @Omeokachie shared an old post of FFK where he called Tinubu a liar for saying he is 69.
“Never take seriously a man that relish the taste of his own vomit,” the tweep wrote.
Chukwuebuka also shared a photo of Tinubu who was dressed in suit, walking with some men and said: “Just look at what they want me to Vote as my president. God will give up on Nigerians if they elect this ancestor.”
Reacting to the image, Mr. Yankee wrote: “What baffles me is how those staring at him walking behaves like parents watching their new born baby taking his/her first step. They watch in fear smiling sheepishly like he may miss his steps.”
@Tobe tweeted, “No one needs to jump. Tinubu won’t win. Peter Obi will be the next President.
FFK, this was your real tweet about Tinubu. 😊 “
Freedom also shared his thought. He tweeted: “How ever you present him, he’s a disaster. People who follow him follow him for crumbs, food and money. Nothing more.”
Oyiidoma1 shared an old post of FFK where he denied joining APC. According to the politician, he found the suggestion that he joined the party false and insulting.
Oyiidoma1 wrote: “Full version of FFK”