By Bisi Lawrence

Very seldom have I encountered such hate, backed   by ill-applied quotations from the Holy Writ. In this season of goodwill to all, very rarely has such venomous abhorrence been let loose on the head of an opponent even in times of war.

FEMI FANI KAYODE

Mr Femi Fani-Kayode has denunciated Muhammadu Buhari, currently elected as the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the on-coming general elections, for unspecified involvement in the Boko Haram war by which a section of this country is ravaged at the moment.

The connection which Mr. Fani-Kayode is able to gleefully cite is the time-worn statement repeated by all sorts of people, that the APC candidate had once stated that if he did not win in a former election, there would be a blood-bath in the country. As it happened, he lost that election and the insurgency which was already smouldering in the country has been frequently bent into the interpretation of the statement, usually in an uncharitable manner.

Needless to say, it was an unfortunate remark to make, as Buhari has himself had cause to regret. He must admit he has honed the nails of mischief-makers, who are to be found across all territories in politics, and they will naturally scratch until they find blood.

There are those who accept the threat as an unguarded outburst of emotion out of frustration. Others have dismissed the remark as no more than a “political statement” of no more moment than President Goodluck Jonathan’s alleged vow to seek no more than one presidential term of office.

In the heat of the hustling’s drive, politicians do make promises they cannot keep, or predictions that have no root in reality.

But then to further suggest that such a criminal character is associated with all Muslims is the height of dangerous mischief. Mr. Fani-Kayode’s advice to Professor Yemi Oshinbajo, the chosen Vice-Presidential candidate of General Buhari definitely came near to that.

We openly submit that it would be extremely offensive, even within the normal reach of Mr. Fani-Kayode’s excessive standards, to go that far.

That is really the substance of the animosity discharged by Mr Fani-Kayode. It goes quite as deep as that. The former Honourable Minister of Aviation, and a one-time attack-dog for the man who put him there—who subsequently suffered a flurry of attack himself—seems to have it in for people of the Islamic faith. Granted that the Boko Haram elements have proved to be Islamic fundamentalists, there is evidence in abundance that their mission goes beyond the establishment of any particular religion since they launch indiscriminate attacks on Muslims as well.

Even their avowed antagonism towards Western education is no more than a smokescreen to further mask their fell purpose of acquiring territory and gratifying their blood-thirsty disposition. To demonise anyone with such an identity is a serious matter. It demands proof, especially from a professional lawyer, beyond reasonable doubt.

In his published advice to the chosen running-mate of General Buhari for the APC in the coming election, Mr Fani-Kayode could be misinterpreted as associating or identifying Muslims generally with the Boko Haram. That would be extremely offensive even by the disdainful standard of casual excessiveness that at times featured in Mr Fani-Kayode’s statements.

It would go further to make one wonder if the ancestry of Mr.Fani-Kayode himself was in no way mingled, at a certain point, with any other religion than Christianity. It is well known that his late father, Mr.Remi Fani-Kayode, was a gentleman of avowed muscular Christianity, and that his grandfather, the late Magistrate Kayode (who did not himself bear a compound name) was born into the religion. The suffix, Fani, however, may happily bear some association with what we are talking about.

And talking about the APC presidential running-mate, Professor Oshinbajo, he is known to be married into the family of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, of illustrious memory, whose sister, if you remember, was an Alhaja—a fact celebrated by the chief who was himelf a well-known Christian. In fact, we who write these things for your information, we hope, are happy to have cousins who are Muslims. The issue of religion used to be strictly personal until it began to be brought to bear on political leanings.

But even as recently as the election which would have swept late Chief M.K.O.Abiola into office, Nigerians did not pay particular attention to religion. Now the idea of a Muslim as the running-mate of another Muslim, or a Christian as the running-mate of another Christian in the election for a top political election, has developed into the odious dimensions of an anathema.

A few friends have been asking me what the chances of the APC are in the presidential elections. I had been thinking that they were pretty slim. I thought they were even pretty slimmer after the emergence of the Vice-Presidential candidate. But I have been having second thoughts after listening to the statements of some of the PDP spokesmen. I would rather lose an election, for instance, than win one with Mr Fani-Kayode in my corner.

What is happening to our football? Okay, you caught me there; it is true I vowed not to talk about our sports administration out of frustration caused by a paucity of imaginative enterprise and woeful lack of direction resulting from the mediocrity of those who found themselves in charge, in preference to capable hands who were adroitly shouldered to the side lines. I felt it could not get worse, but it could—and it has! So permit me to protest, if only once more.

I object to a failed coach who is hanging on. A sit-tight coach—whoever saw the likes of that anywhere in sports? Stephen Keshi has failed, most woefully and most painfully. If he had any sense of honour, he should have resigned without any prompting after he had come a cropper. It happens all the time and, if you would pardon my bluntness, it could not have happened to a nicer guy than the “Big Boss”.

The gratuitous, unwarranted interference— yes, interference—of President Goodluck Jonathan which is said to have given muscle to Keshi’s refusal to give room for a successor to the coach adds no lustre to the president’s exertions to remain in office. I would more willingly vote for a president who allows appointed experts a free hand in the lawful discharge of their duties.

Happy New Year.