>
A former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has described as saddening the reported defection of a former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, to the All Progressives Congress(APC).
Fani-Kayode said it was unfortunate that Obanikoro would agree to join the camp of those who had been persecuting him.
Recall that in October last year, Fani-Kayode and Obanikoro spent about a month together in EFCC custody.
While Obanikoro was under investigation for allegedly receiving N4.7bn from the Office of the National Security Adviser, Fani-Kayode is being prosecuted for allegedly receiving over N800m when he was the spokesman for the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation.
Fani-Kayode said: “My brother, Musiliu Obanikoro’s decision to join the APC irks and saddens me. I say this because I have always loved him and I care. You cannot fight evil by joining it. You cannot bring light by entering the darkness. You cannot find joy by partaking in the bread of sorrows.
“You cannot run away in the heat of battle. You must have the courage of your convictions. Where is your honour? Where is your strength? Where is your dignity? Where is your self-respect? Where is your sense of self-worth?
“You and I are royalty. We are princes and kings and children of the living God. We were taught and brought up to fight to the end and never to bow to the enemy.”
“We were taught never to flinch before oppression. We were taught never to give in to our worst fears and to those who hate us and who despise our people. We were taught never to crawl on the floor and be slaves to our fellow men.
“Always remember that rebellion against a tyrant is an act of obedience to God. They may have today but tomorrow belongs to us.
“Finally take note of this: if you are not ready to die for something then you are not worthy of living for anything.
“I would rather die a free man than live a slave. And as long as I live the Yoruba, nay the south, shall offer some form of resistance to our collective oppressors and as surely as God lives we shall never be slaves”.