“I Never Said Tinubu Killed Funso Williams” — Fani-Kayode

Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, has said that both he and Reno Omokri withdrew earlier harsh remarks about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu years ago and should not be linked to a criminal defamation case involving activist Omoyele Sowore.

Fani-Kayode made the statement after claims that Sowore cited comments allegedly made by him about Tinubu more than a decade ago to justify statements now before a court.

He said Sowore wrongly attributed to him an accusation that Tinubu was responsible for the death of former Lagos governorship candidate, Chief Funso Williams, in 2003.

“That allegation is untrue. I never said that President Tinubu killed Funso Williams,” Fani-Kayode said.

He explained that his actual remark, made 11 years ago, was: “I am not Funso Williams; I cannot be killed like a chicken.” He added that he later withdrew the statement, acknowledging that it was inappropriate and open to misinterpretation.

Fani-Kayode said the comment was made during the 2015 presidential campaign when he served as Director of Media and Publicity for former President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He noted that election periods often involve sharp exchanges between political actors.

He said he left the PDP in 2020, joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2021, and subsequently became a supporter of Tinubu. During the 2023 election, he served as Director of New Media and Special Operations in Tinubu’s Presidential Campaign Organisation, leading a team of about 250 people.

Fani-Kayode said his continued support for the president shows he holds no grievance against him.

He also stated that although Omokri opposed Tinubu during the 2023 election, Omokri later withdrew his criticisms after the election and now supports the president’s policies.

Fani-Kayode described attempts to connect him or Omokri to Sowore’s legal issues as unfounded and said Sowore should either withdraw his statements about the president or defend them in court.

He also commended Tinubu for accepting former critics into his political circle.

Fani-Kayode and Omokri are among recent ambassadorial nominees appointed by the president. Their appointments have drawn attention on social media due to their previous public criticism of Tinubu and the ruling party.