I read with disbelief the comments credited to Femi Fani-Kayode (whom I am told is a former Nigerian Minister) in which he launched an unjustified attack on former President Jerry Rawlings over a perceived endorsement of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Kayode went ahead to use unprintable words on H.E. Rawlings without verifying the authenticity of the alleged comments.
I have decided not to join Kayode in his mud-fight, which I am told is his favourite survival game in Nigeria, but simply to demand an apology from him on the following basis:
- At no point did President Rawlings make the statement credited to him from which Kayode suffered a bout of spasm and the attendant gibberish.
- If anything, President Rawlings abhors injustice. Nigeria needs to better secure it’s people and create a just society for its people. Nigeria should take its pride of place in Africa.
- Anybody of good character and sane mind knows that fake news rules the social media space. It doesn’t take rocket science to verify any suspicious post like the one attributed to H.E. Rawlings.
- Former President Rawlings is highly respected across the world and in Ghana as an elder state man and a symbol of integrity. Only a badly-brought up child would attack an elder without recourse to commonsense.
Other African countries look up to Nigeria to lead the way, and it is my prayer things get better.
Kayode goofed and his comment doesn’t portray him as a man of integrity and honour. He should recognise this and apologise.
Source: Dr. Donald Agumenu
African leadership and management expert, and leading social commentor
Email: donaldcogan@yahoo.com
