In psychology, there is a type of inferiority complex, better understood by illustration than by definition. For example, the marginal Englishman has a tendency to feel and behave more English than the core Englishman; the peripheral Fulani in Kwara would proclaim more of that ethnic stock than the core Fulani from Sokoto. Why, then, should anyone be surprised that Chief David Oluwafemi Adewunmi Abdulateef Fani-Kayode, an Ife Lagosian, has chosen to take up the command in the raging war to flush out unwanted Igbos from Lagos State?
Anyone who is familiar with rabble-rouser Fani-Kayode, knows well that he conducts wars on many fronts, and simultaneously too. While challenging the legitimacy of the continued stay of some Igbos in Lagos, he has also tried to prove to the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah and, indeed, to Nigerians, that since his (Fani-Kayode’s) 7–month tenure in 2006-2007, no other Minister of Aviation has matched his performance in that sector. It was so insensitive of Fani-Kayode to have chosen to attack the Minister on the occasion of the unfortunate air mishap involving the Associated Airlines plane in which 15 Nigerians died.
The curious thing about Fani-Kayode is not so much the self righteousness with which he speaks or writes, it is the extremism, venom and vitriol running through his criticisms, all of which were on display when he castigated President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, whom he described as a weak leader who, according to him, did not deserve to stay a day longer in that office. Fani-Kayode’s reason was that “the President has handed over the country to Boko Haram insurgents.” How? It is needless to ask, as that will amount to seeking for an explanation from a man whose pattern repels rationality.
Fani-Kayode’s series of diatribes on President Jonathan have even gone beyond irrationality; they have been audacious, mischievous, without the slightest sense of decorum and largely bordering on the insane. Without showing any qualms or respect for the office, he talked about “President Jonathan’s sickening weakness, cowardice and capitulation in the face of Boko Haram.” And, in some kind of hallucination, he accused the President of harbouring “plans to divide Nigeria if he fails to win the presidential elections of 2015.” About the same time and with the same frame of mind, Fani-Kayode wrote an article in which he described the Igbos as “collectively unlettered, uncouth, uncultured, unrestrained and crude in their ways because money and the acquisition of wealth is their objective and purpose in life”. (Vanguard Newspaper, August 10, 2013)
What could have been responsible for a mentality of the sort that Fani-Kayode displays? For sure, he is the product of a family history, indeed, the most prominent living member of that family today. Although, as a youth, Fani-Kayode was involved in some kind of political activism in the 1980s, he did not come into the limelight until his appointment, first as Special Assistant (Public Affairs) to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, then as Minister of Culture and Tourism and later as Minister of Aviation (2006–2007).
We all know that Fani–Kayode’s performance in these various positions was marked by acts of gross misconduct and immorality. Only a few examples, as recently publicised by his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a statement by the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Barrister Abdullahi Jalo, will suffice: Nigerians still remember the unfortunate story of one Mr Taiwo who was Manager of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport. Fani-Kayode who, at the time, was Special Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, displayed crass impunity when he refused to be scanned at the Airport on his way out of the country. But Taiwo insisted on the proper thing being done, and Fani-Kayode. was eventually scanned. But when Fani-Kayode became Minister of Aviation, he vindictively redeployed Taiwo who was later frustrated out of the service.
The same vindictiveness, according to the PDP, was displayed by Fani-Kayode when he suspended the Managing Director of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Alhaji Muhammed Yusuf, for refusing to illegally extend the concessioning of the Murtala Mohammed (Local) to Bi-Courtney Aviation Services from 12–46 years. The Minister unilaterally granted the extension without presidential approval.
Also, the party claimed that as Minister of Aviation, Fani-Kayode’s Special Assistant was reportedly caught by security officials at the Airport while ferrying obscene sums of money on behalf of his principal; and during the same period, many utility vehicles of the Ministry mysteriously disappeared and surfaced in Ghana where they were converted to domestic use by Fani-Kayode’s family and concubines. Some of the vehicles were later recovered by the EFCC.
It is common knowledge that for his excesses and improper conduct as Minister, Fani-Kayode was investigated and arrested in July 2008 by the EFCC in connection with alleged misappropriation of a 19.5 billion naira Aviation Intervention Fund. Following the findings of the investigation, a Senate Committee recommended in 2008 that Fani-Kayode be barred from holding public office for a period of five years.
Fani-Kayode was also charged in December, 2008, by the EFCC with 47 counts of money laundering.
Such a high level of reckless and dishonourable conduct raises the critical issue of mental and emotional instability. That, precisely, is where Fani-Kayode’s background provides an explanation as to why he does what he does. Fani-Kayode was born into an educated, well-to-do family. He had the opportunity of a good education and successfully graduated into the legal profession. Then, he went off the mark…. And, since then, things have never been the same. Drug addiction and the effects of narcotics took him twice to Ghana for rehabilitation. How successful those procedures were, I am not in a position to say. The truth, however, is that among psychiatrics, it is strongly believed that a large number of mentally ill patients suffer from recidivism – meaning that they are never totally healed.
When, the other day, I read newspaper reports that Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu had threatened to take legal action against Fani-Kayode for adding her name to his list of conquered Igbo women, what came to my mind was the adage among my people that any person who responds to a madman’s verbal attack, would find it difficult convincing on-lookers as to who, indeed, is insane and who is normal. I think very sincerely that, overall, Fani-Kayode deserves pity rather than condemnation. If it is not possible for him to retrace his steps from his current dance macabre to the path of sanity, if he ever was there, who will make the personal effort to save Fani-Kayode from himself?
· Mr Ojo, a public affairs commentator, sent this piece from Lagos.
