FEMI FANI KAYODE – THE CASH, THE JET AND PASTOR AYO ORITSEJAFOR

I have been a long admirer of Femi Fani kayode, I first came across the name in the Guardian Newspaper and like a few other contributors to the paper I got hooked on him. I practically adore Dr. Reuben Abati and until I married I had a large part of my room occupied with copies of the Guardian Newspaper with Dr. Abati’s articles in them. Till date if I and my wife want to refer to someone as very busy, we simply say Abati in reference to an article he wrote in Ghana some years back.

There was no article written by Femi Fani Kayode, as well as Dr. G. G. Darah - the Pen Militant – that I will not devour with excitement. I told a friend once “Any novice who cares to read and is passionate about service can be a successful leader in Nigeria by reading the Guardian Newspaper’s opinion pages” that was before the political attraction lured many of them away from the Pen Profession.

The article in question I read with the same zeal but was disappointed because my Long Admired Femi Fani Kayode struggled in this article, he was combative, defensive and evasive – I wonder what will have been the content of this article if Barr. Kayode was still in the opposition APC?

That aside, I read the article to get facts from an insider – A former Special Assistant (Public Affairs), A former Minister of Culture and Tourism and a former Minister of Aviation and also for the fact that coming from his rich family background, his bluntness about issues and knowing that “A man who has nothing to lose, has nothing to fear” I expected to read vantage Femi Fani Kayode, but I was disappointed as the article left me with more questions than answers.

The only revelation here is that this is standard practice with Government transactions as it is done by many Countries and that it has indeed been done in Nigeria before under Military and Civilian Governments even though Barr. Kayode did not mention any specific transaction, perhaps it is against National Security?

While he acknowledged that there must have been a breakdown of Communication Barr. Kayode see nothing wrong in the whole saga and devoted a greater part of his article in defense of Papa Ayo Oritsejafor. It did not bother Barr. Kayode that if not well handled Nigeria stand to lose almost One Hundred and Fifty – Nine Billion Naira (N159, 000,000,000.00) only to the South African Government because of what he termed “Communication breakdown”. With the amount of money involved, should it not concern Nigerians that such lapses exist? Whose duty was it to communicate to the South African Authorities that our Government is sending people with such huge sum in cash to South Africa and failed to do that? Should not such an official be sanctioned?

More questions, Barr. Kayode said “the only failing was the fact that the cash was not declared to the South African Customs as is required by law.” Whose failure is that sir? Are these men not supposed to be professionals? Is this the first time that these men embark on such mission? If so why send novice for such an important transaction at a time when our country was at war and calls for all diligence?

There is more, why do people buy private jets? I thought it was for convenience and ease of moving around because of their very tight schedules? – I may be wrong! Why buy a Private Jet only to lease it to another company? What were the terms of the lease? Did Green Coast Produce Limited that leased the jet from Eagle Air Company aware that Papa Ayo Oritsejafor is an interested Party in the Company? Were they aware of the nature of Transaction that the Jet was supposed to be used for in South Africa?

It is interesting that the South African authorities have decided to launch an investigation. Again we should not fold our arms, instead of the name calling and the grandstanding posture that my respected Barr. Femi Fani Kayode has taken; we should launch our own investigation. We need to find out who did what wrong and how we bungled a top secret operation that has now made our Nation a laughing stock. Word of Life Bible Church and CAN, should also launch separate investigation to know why and how the Jet was used for such an operation. Papa Ayo Oritsejafor is not just the President of CAN, he is the embodiment of Christ to many as he is inspirational to many young people becoming Christians and developing a deeper walk with the Lord. To many of us, He is a Father, Role Model, Inspiration and our Example, we must not anyone or any institution create a situation that will give anyone or any institution to cast aspersions on him and the Body of Christ that he represents and Symbolizes.