Femi Fani-Kayode, a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has responded to the Deputy High Commissioner of the United Kingdom (UK) to Nigeria, Ben Llewellyn-Jones, after the Commission threatened a visa ban following its stance on the conduct of the March 18 governorship and state assembly elections. Fani-Kayode criticized the British envoy for mentioning his name in a commentary about the elections, advising him to refrain from interfering in Nigeria’s internal affairs.
The British High Commission expressed concern over the use of “inflammatory ethno-religious language” by some public and political figures in a statement released on March 22, after the election. Fani-Kayode added an addendum to his earlier response, in which he referred to the British Deputy High Commissioner as a “little Englander.” He criticized the envoy for attempting to dictate Lagos state’s ethnic makeup and criticized the use of inflammatory language by some politicians.
Fani-Kayode stated that he had no apology for his earlier comments and accused the British Commission of interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs. He noted that foreign diplomats were meant to enhance relationships with Nigeria, not lecture Nigerians. He claimed that foreign diplomats could not interfere in Nigeria’s politics, impose their values on Nigerians, or threaten Nigerians. Fani-Kayode further challenged the British envoy to do his worst and stated that Nigeria was an independent sovereign nation.
In conclusion, Fani-Kayode’s response to the Deputy High Commissioner’s comments regarding the conduct of the March 18 governorship and state assembly elections is one of defiance. He is adamant that Nigeria is an independent and sovereign nation, and foreign diplomats have no business interfering in Nigeria’s internal affairs. Fani-Kayode is also critical of the use of inflammatory language by some politicians and believes that foreign diplomats have no right to lecture Nigerians.
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