Much has been said lately about Femi Fani-Kayode to the extent that some are questioning his psychological state. Let’s simply call him Femi in this discourse, as an attempt is being made here to offer a psychological guess about this brother of ours.
Femi in recent times has been viewed as the stormy petrel of Nigerian politics. Rightly so, as no political initiator in the nation has attracted as much hostility from and threats to his political survival from his opponents as he has.
Femi must have the survival instinct of political gamesmanship which has stood him in good stead during the turbulent periods then and now, and his style of firebrand nationalism has shaped his political personae that are hard to match by many of his opponents.
Of note, Femi generally views life and politics from the perspective of a pragmatist as it relates to African democratic institution realities, especially in Nigeria.
Femi has seen it all within the Nigerian legal and political circle, dating back to his time as a national youth leader, then as a Minister, and among others, as the current provocative mount piece for the 2015 Jonathan’s presidential campaign.
Femi actually, unlike his political haters or those with resentment eyes towards him, is really the one who knows how the Nigerian political system works, how developing economic institutions are actually functioning, and how public opinion and elections are played out.
Femi, in his status as a political thinker, does not waste any time to point out how political elites have made a mess of things in our young and growing country, and he could care less regarding an individual’s political affiliation.
Femi is a genuine original “doer”, as well as a sensational judge in regards to the realities of things in Nigeria. He is all about political pragmatism which, for him, is about paying greater attention to the consequences of what institutions and leaders do than to just theoretical talks.
Femi, as a valuable contributor to the understanding of politics and democracy in Nigeria, is not afraid to act in a practical or straightforward manner on matters that affect the disadvantaged and average Nigerians.
Yes, Femi, sometimes comes out as a political player, but in many ways he remains a political pragmatist. As such, he will only plant something that is not messy as he always aims for that which will flourish for him and for the larger society at the end of the day.
Femi, in response to any political storm or intense situation, is always ready and willing to ignore mere theories in order to accomplish his goals, and he will do anything that will lead to his own advancement, with the people’s troubles in his mind. So, yes, he is both an opportunist and a pragmatist.
Femi is a man of pride and a believer in the African spirit of nationalism. He is a man who strives for our traditions and hopes and, as such, views the White race as historically a barrier to the Black race, as evidenced by his long standing conviction that the White colonial lords and Queens never truly wanted real unity for Africans, Nigeria in particular.
Femi views the colonial collaborators as having created a country called Nigeria on a very weak base and a tiny tread, and continues to worry about our future, and as such he feels it is his duty to always seek out what he internally feels is best for our people.
Femi, of course, has politically prostituted himself between and across political parties but what matters to him is a truth in any form that he can fetch on behalf of the average Nigerian when all is said and done.
Femi sees politics as a piece of schoolwork that must be studied repeatedly and, once he sees anything that represents awkwardness within a political party or a political person, he is quickly ready to do the attack and defend such attack with facts.
Femi is all about the people and he is constantly seeking what is right for the nation, and sees political or religious affiliation as never as important as the nation as a whole. As such, he would oppose leaders of any political party, even to his own detriment.
Femi, as history tells us, is a fearless man who has criticized military and presidential leaders with the intent of speaking on behalf of the commoner, like the low level soldier, the struggling student, the poor and the sick, and he does this using proverbial words and drastic remarks.
Femi, as we know, has gone after President Goodluck Jonathan for his all-round softness and he does this sometimes through ridicule. He has gone after retired General Muhammadu Buhari using tough words. He has also gone after a former master, former President Olusegun Obasanjo in a clever way, and will continue to go after anyone and everyone he views as a spoiler to the people.
Femi is about seeking hope, even if he has to verbally abuse and kick the ass of any and all in order to make a point about himself on behalf of the Nigerian people.
While no one really knows how the 2015 election will turn out, one thing is certain. Femi will not stay clear from the trenches of political warfare as it is not in his style to create a vacuum in political life. For those who see him as an existential or political threat, they are right, as there is always going to be some bad and some good in everything done by Femi Fani-Kayode.
Dr. John Egbeazien Oshodi is a Forensic, Clinical and National Psychologist and a former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Psychological Association. [email protected]
