You’ll Never Be President’, Fani-Kayode Slams Peter Obi Over NADECO Comment

Ambassador-designate, Femi Fani-Kayode, has launched a blistering attack on Peter Obi, declaring that the former Labour Party presidential candidate would “never” lead Nigeria over his controversial comments abou the June 12 struggle and the legacy of pro-democracy activists on the platform of National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).

He dismissed Obi’s presidential ambition, saying, “You shall NEVER become President of our nation.”

Fani-Kayode’s outburst followed Obi’s remarks on his X handle On Thursday, which seemed like a jab thrown at President Tinubu, who was part of the NADECO struggle in the era of late Head of State, General Sani Abacha.

In a post on X on Friday, Fani-Kayode described Obi’s statement as an affront to the memory of those who fought and died resisting military rule, saying the former Anambra governor had crossed a moral line.

“This is way beyond politics,” he wrote.

“It has assaulted the senses and wounded the sensitivities of all those that lost their lives, liberty and loved ones during the struggle against fascism, dictatorship and military rule.”

He said Obi’s remarks amounted to a desecration of the sacrifices made by members of the National Democratic Coalition and other pro-democracy activists who resisted military dictatorship in the aftermath of the June 12, 1993 presidential election annulment.

“To mock the memory of those that died fighting for democracy in the June 12th struggle and sacrificed their lives and liberty as members of NADECO in this way is unacceptable and unforgivable. Simply put, it is despicable,” Fani-Kayode stated.

Obi had, in a post on Thursday, lamented what he described as the betrayal of democratic ideals by some politicians who once positioned themselves as defenders of democracy and human rights during the Abacha era.

“What an irony of history, that the acclaimed defenders of democracy and human rights who claimed to have fought for democracy during the era of General Sani Abacha now find themselves worse than the man they opposed,” Obi wrote.

He added that Abacha “will be remembered as seemingly more democratic and more respectful of human rights than the so-called champions of activism from the NADECO days,” concluding: “Power indeed reveals character.”

Although Obi did not mention any individual by name, his remarks were widely interpreted as a criticism towards President Bola Tinubu and some members of the current political establishment amid the deepening crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC).