OPINION: SINNERS CAN BE HEROES. A case for Femi Fani Kayode. By Eric Uchenna Chimara
Yesterday, after making a post about his meeting with Nnamdi Kanu and equating him with Zik and Ojukwu, two eminent Igbo sons with larger than life images, self-acclaimed but previously unheard Igbo nationalists have taken to the internet disparaging him and his comments. One even went farther to advice we ignore him, citing that he could be under the influence of ‘Anwuru Ike”.
More appalling is that the majority of those encouraging the rejection of FFK’s message and comparison have been hiding behind Nwanyi Nnewi’s pot of Onugbu soup while this current administration, its military and paramilitary wings, plus the herdsmen inflict the worst discriminatory policies and untold sufferings on the people of South East.
Even on few occasions when they managed to churn out chicken hearted lines in support of the Igbo cause or against one or two anti-Igbo policies of this current administration, the lines were laced with distasteful political correctness capable of melting the heart of a vengeful dictator.
Now I ask, what is reproachful and ludicrous equating a son with his father even when he is still a toddler? Does any comparison of Nnamdi Kanu with Zik or Ojukwu undermine and delete the importance, respect and reputation of those our dead heroes?
That Fani Kayode, for whatever reasons and discernment after meeting Nnamdi Kanu, decided to eulogize him by drawing allusions to ZIK and Ojukwu shouldn’t elicit such ubiquitous uproar and disdainful remarks. Isn’t one of the major prayers of every parent to watch and see their children surpass them?
Like Zik did wonders for Igbos and Nigeria in general, and Ojukwu during the civil war, Nnamdi Kanu has already planted the seeds of awareness and Igbo renaissance among our people, and there is no need denying this salient fact. Whether we rightly or wrongly disagree with his modus operandi, the POSITIVE ripple effects of his struggle have been resonating here and in the farthest corners of the world where Igbos dwell. Therefore, vilifying Fani Kayode for adulating him, to me, makes absolutely no sense.
In 2005, after watching Mikel Obi perform during the FIFA under-20 world cup in the Netherlands, we all went gaga and started dreaming of a new hybrid JayJay Okocha and Kanu Nwankwo in the making. Should we have seen the comparison of Mikel then with two of the best footballers this country has ever produced as sacrilegious because he was yet to play for the Super eagles then? Believe me, the tumult was much ado about nothing.
Back to Fani Kayode- I have this question for those previously obscure hands and minds suddenly going crazy about his pro Nnamdi write up.
I will have to borrow some lines from the Bible, a scene where the seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish high priest tried to cast out a demon from their compatriot.
The great Zik of Africa we know,
The Ikemba Gburugburu we know,
The fiery Mazi Nnamdi Kani we know,
The eloquent and courageous Femi Fani Kayode we know,
BUT WHO ARE YOU? WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?
As someone marked out for both persecution and prosecution by the Buhari government, Fani Kayode has stood his grounds fearlessly amidst his travails. Before his first arrest, he had written countless articles criticizing the nepotistic and vision-less policies of this government. While he was at it, you were nowhere to be seen.
No one has been as loquacious and blistering as he is when conveying the ills of this current government to the fore; in an era when opposition politicians have either gone silent or shivering in a corner, confused and dumbfounded like a hare during a harsh winter.
Whether or not he is doing all these for political expediency means little to me as long as his messages are both resonating and creating the positive awareness they are intended to implant in the psyches of the citizens.
Since the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu for those trumped up charges of treason and terrorism, I have not read any profound and appealing article from any prominent Igbo politician calling for his release. I have not seen any of the newfound lovers of Zik and Ndigbo standing with him during any of the court proceedings. They have never secretly or openly sent any form of delegation to either the interior minister or the president to negotiate for his freedom.
The first time I read a compelling and thought provoking piece highlighting the plights of IPOB members in the hands of the police and the continuous detention of Nnamdi Kanu, it was authored by this same Femi Fani Kayode and not by the politically correct lovers of Zik and Ojukwu, who have suddenly pounced on him for comparing Nnamdi with Zik. Therefore, his meeting with Nnamdi in prison wasn’t a mere coincidence as he had constantly written about him before the meeting.
Whether he is experimenting with some form of tokenism, or trying to appeal to the spirit and pride of the Igbos for selfish reasons, we cannot wish away with the back of the hands the contents of his messages and their invaluable influence on us.
Like I stated earlier, I don’t intend to make FFK a saint with this write up (he’s not, and neither am I)but I remember the response given by the Blind Jew cured by Christ in the Bible when the Jews tried to get his opinion about the man who had just cured him. He said. “I do not know whether he is a sinner; one thing I do know, that, although I was blind, I now see”
So on FFK, I do not know whether he is dirty and corrupt (let the courts handle that) or if he has some tricks up his sleeves (I don’t read minds) but what I know is this- his fiery and illuminating articles, his courageous stands against the current tyranny and dictatorship, his fearless and unbiased approach towards correcting some wrongs in the polity have already placed him on a high and respected pedestal.
He is rich, famous and well-connected and could have secretly and cowardly negotiated for his peace and tranquility as some of our brothers had done.
That he chose to stand in the hot kitchen and assimilate all the heat coming from the worst dictatorship we’ve known in years even when he could have either jumped ship, settled or mellowed down his attacks like others is enough for me to accord him all the respect I accord to heroes.
(Personal Opinion)
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