“I believe Obasanjo is not a fully-fledged Yoruba” – Fani-Kayode, gives reason
Director of Special Media Projects and Operations of the Bola Tinubu/Kashim Shettima Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Femi Fani-Kayode, said on Sunday that the’silence’ of former president Olusegun Obasanjo over a recent comment by popular Igbo businessman, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, who said Yoruba people are “political rascals” proves that the rumour that his (Obasanjo’s) father was an Igbo may well be true”.”
Iwuanyanwu stated in a viral video that Igbo people had invested so much in Nigeria and that they would not yield to pressure from those urging them to leave. He also criticised the Yoruba.
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On Saturday, the Igbo chieftain spoke in Awka, Anambra State, for the celebration of Governor Charles Soludo’s One Year in Office. Obasanjo was among the dignitaries who attended the event.
Fani-Kayode, a former Special Assistant on Public Affairs and Minister of Culture and Tourism under Obasanjo, expressed disappointment that the former Nigerian leader did not address Iwuanyanwu’s anti-Yoruba remarks.
Fani-Kayode wrote on his verified Twitter handle: “The fact that our revered leader and one of the fathers of our nation, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, can sit there and say nothing when Chief (Dr.) Emmanuel Iwanyanwu, an elder statesman who I have always respected, describes the entire Yoruba race as “rascals” that the Igbo “will DEAL with” tells me that the rumour that he is NOT a fully-fledged Yoruba man and that his father was an Igbo may well be true.
“Whatever the case, this is not the OBJ I once knew, cherished, defended, and laboured so diligently for. Something is incorrect. No one could have gotten away with making a statement against ANY tribe in the presence of the old OBJ we all knew and respected. He would have stood up and reprimanded them.
“As for Iwanyanwu, I will not respond to him or the other attendees of that event who collectively disparaged our people, as they are my in-laws and my four sons are half Igbo. I have blood and family ties with the Igbo, and I will continue to love them despite this outrageous provocation, so nothing Iwanyawau can say will cause me to turn against them.
“Apart from that, there are millions of Igbos who do not agree with Iwanyanwu and who have shown nothing but the utmost respect for the Yoruba race and our Northern allies. John Nwodo, Orji Uzor Kalu, Chimaroke Nnamani, Ifeanyi Ugwainyi, David Umahi, Hope Uzodinma, Innocent Chukwuma, Emeka Offor, and many others are among them.
Iwanyanwu does not speak for them when he refers to us as rascals, nor does he speak for the wives of Seyi Makinde, Rotimi Akeredolu, Ademola Adeleke, Gbadebo ‘Chinedu’ Rhodes-Vivour, David Adedeji Adeleke (also known as Davido), and myself, who are all Igbo.
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“However, I will say that Igbos who agree with Iwanyanwu must be cautious and recognise that the so-called “Yoruba rascals” have shown the Igbo race more love, respect, admiration, fraternity, solidarity, and courtesy over the past 63 years than ANY other tribe in Nigeria, and millions of Yoruba men have Igbo wives.
“Many Yoruba leaders, including Pa Ayo Adebanjo, OBJ, Afenifere, Akin Oshuntokun, Gbadebo ‘Chinedu’ Rhodes-Vivour, Babatunde Gbadamosi, and so many others, stood with and supported Peter Obi in his unsuccessful bid to become president of Nigeria. I wonder if they are also “rascals.” A few years ago, we extended our hand for a handshake across the Niger and built bridges with the east. I, along with Chief Iwanyanwu, Ohaneze, and Afenifere, attended that conference.
“As a matter of fact, we all made eloquent and rousing speeches calling for a closer relationship and more collaboration among our people. It was a wonderful event and a wonderful experience.
“At the time, we were in complete solidarity with the Igbo and lamented the injustices they had endured over the years. I went so far as to declare that Nigeria owes an apology to the Igbo for the genocide they endured during the civil war and the pogroms that preceded the war. I continue to hold this position, as do many other Yorubas.
“All we asked for in return was a little bit of respect and for them to stop referring to Lagos as “no man’s land.” This is an emotionally charged issue for us. The claim that Lagos does not belong to Yorubaland is extremely offensive and insulting to us.
“We also decided to back Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a proud Yoruba son, for the presidency. These two factors have prompted a small number of misguided Igbos to express hatred for us, insult us at every opportunity, unleash their youth against us in the media, and refer to us as “rascals.”
“With these words and this attitude, the bridge between our two people could soon be destroyed, and the handshake across the Niger could soon be revoked. That would be a catastrophe of monumental proportions and an affront to everything we stand for. We must not let it happen.
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