Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has clarified that both he and former presidential aide Reno Omokri have long withdrawn previous criticisms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, dismissing claims linking them to activist Omoyele Sowore’s ongoing defamation case.
Fani-Kayode made the statement following reports that Sowore had referenced remarks allegedly made by him about Tinubu over a decade ago to justify comments now under criminal investigation.
“That allegation is untrue. I never said that President Tinubu killed Funso Williams,” Fani-Kayode said, referring to the 2003 death of the former Lagos State governorship candidate. He added that his earlier statement “I am not Funso Williams; I cannot be killed like a chicken” was made during the 2015 presidential campaign and has since been withdrawn as inappropriate and open to misinterpretation.
The former minister noted that harsh exchanges are common during election campaigns, particularly under intense political rivalries. He also highlighted his political journey, leaving the PDP in 2020, joining the APC in 2021, and later serving as Director of New Media and Special Operations in Tinubu’s 2023 Presidential Campaign Organisation.
Fani-Kayode stressed that he has consistently supported President Tinubu since his inauguration, while noting that Omokri, who initially opposed Tinubu during the 2023 elections, has also retracted his criticisms and now backs the president’s policies.
He described attempts to associate himself or Omokri with Sowore’s legal issues as “absurd,” urging Sowore to retract his claims or be prepared to defend them in court. Fani-Kayode concluded by praising President Tinubu for his magnanimity in welcoming former critics into his administration.
Both Fani-Kayode and Omokri are among the ambassadorial nominees recently appointed by President Tinubu, despite criticisms on social media over their past opposition to the president and the ruling party.
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