Former Aviation Minister and member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Femi Fani-Kayode, has rejected the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria’s threat of visa ban over alleged hate speeches against Nigerians of Igbo extraction during the recently concluded 2023 general elections.
Ben Llellwelling Jones had accused Fani-Kayode of making inciting comments against the Igbo ethnic group, which led to violence against mostly Igbos during the March 18 Governorship and State House of Assembly elections in Nigeria.
Fani-Kayode, however, rejected the allegations, saying he could not be intimidated by such threats, insisting he did not need any validation or endorsement from the UK Deputy High Commissioner. He urged Mr. Jones to keep his nose out of Nigeria’s internal affairs, steer clear of commenting on the country’s elections and remain an observer.
The former Minister accused the British envoy of crossing the line, saying Nigeria ceased being a British colony 63 years ago, hence the country needs no lesson on how to conduct its politics. Fani-Kayode noted that he could not be intimidated by a veiled threat of visa ban and that he would not allow same-sex marriage to be introduced in the country.
Furthermore, Fani-Kayode advised Jones to be more concerned with the systemic racism, inherent injustice, and insufferable arrogance entrenched in the British establishment and society than the intra-party politics of Nigeria. He also urged the British envoy to focus more on his nation’s efforts to bring the world one step closer to World War III due to the unfolding events in Ukraine.