A fresh political storm erupted on Friday as former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, launched a blistering attack on former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, accusing him of attempting to “denigrate” the legacy of pro-democracy activists under the NADECO.
In a strongly worded statement posted on social media, Fani-Kayode described Obi’s alleged criticism of NADECO and its leaders as “a crying shame,” vowing that it “shall not go unanswered.
“Peter Obi’s attack on NADECO and his attempt to denigrate the leaders of that movement is a crying shame and shall not go unanswered,” he said.
The former minister defended the role of NADECO, a coalition that opposed military rule in the 1990s, insisting its members paid a heavy price in the struggle for democracy.
“Our NADECO leaders and foot soldiers resisted military rule and were being locked up, driven into exile, subjected to… oppression, persecution and torture,” he stated.
Fani-Kayode also revisited Nigeria’s turbulent political history following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election believed to have been won by the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, blaming key actors of the era for the crisis that followed.
“It is because of people like Peter that the military Head of State at the time was compelled to annul Abiola’s election, after which the nation was thrown into chaos,” he alleged.
He further accused Obi of aligning with the late military ruler, Sani Abacha, during the pro-democracy struggle, an allegation he said disqualifies the former Anambra governor from laying claim to democratic credentials.
“He should be the last person to talk about fighting for democracy, he did not have the guts to resist tyranny,” Fani-Kayode said.
The outspoken politician also took aim at figures he claimed were linked to the annulment era, including David Mark, alleging controversial statements attributed to him during the crisis.
In a series of pointed remarks, Fani-Kayode warned Obi to refrain from making comments about NADECO, insisting that survivors of the struggle remain “living witnesses” to the sacrifices made.
“Many of us were in NADECO, we spoke out, suffered persecution, some were killed and forced into exile,” he said.
He added that the sacrifices of pro-democracy activists between 1992 and 1999 should not be “rubbished” or rewritten, urging respect for what he described as one of Nigeria’s darkest political periods.
