By Ife Osemedua
365Daily – Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019 election, Mr. Peter Obi and former Aviation Minister and PDP chieftain, Osita Chidoka, have questioned the propriety and morality of the manner President Muhammadu Buhari threw open the Presidential Villa to receive Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, who recently defected from PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to both politicians, such an open reception by the President rankles, as it does not only send a wrong signal of a seeming presidential endorsement for a person still facing a fraud case, it also diminishes the exalted office of the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, by turning it to a photo studio for politicians of all shades.
Chidoka said, “President Buhari is the head of the Executive branch of government in Nigeria. The Executive branch represented by EFCC in 2016 accused Femi Fani kayode in FRN vs Femi Fani-Kayode (Former Minister of Aviation) & 3 others of allegedly stealing 4.9bn and illegally disbursed the said sum belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria for political and personal uses. The case comes up again on October 13, 2021.
“President Buhari, on September 16, received my friend Femi in his office took a picture with him under the Coat of Arms and the flags of Nigeria and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Taking a photograph with the President in this hallowed chamber is one of the highest honour on distinguished visitors. He has honoured Femi greatly.
“With this honour, I expect the EFCC to withdraw the case and apologise to Femi and all the opposition politicians under prosecution. It is clear, from the President’s body language, that they are victims of a political witch hunt.
“Obviously, there is no national red line to cross.”
On his part, former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, said he wasn’t bothered by the defections, but only worried by the manner the presidency is going about it.
He said: “Let me tell you what worries me about the defections of today.
“I don’t do the politics of asking people why did you defect from here to here.
“What I find worrisome is seeing people daily and weekly being led to go and take photoshoots with the President. I am worried about it.
“I want to see the President taking pictures at the funerals of our fallen soldiers, police or their families.
“I want to see him taking pictures with young boys and girls who are doing so many innovative things in the tech industry.
“I want to see him taking pictures with people who are making a lot of impact.
“Taking picture with those of us – politicians – because I can now define politicians as heartless, valueless, is very worrisome.
“I am pleading with those who are close to him, yes if you want to join a party, please do, but those pictures are not helping our country because perception is sending a wrong signal that you can be anything and be elevated to something.
“That is why the country is collapsing,” he said.