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Fani-Kayode says he never accused Tinubu of Funso Williams’ death
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Former minister confirms retraction of harsh comments made during 2015 campaigns
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Sowore urged to retract statements or defend them in court
Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has said that he and former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, had long withdrawn earlier harsh criticisms directed at President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, dismissing attempts to link them to a criminal defamation case involving activist Omoyele Sowore.
Fani-Kayode made the clarification amid claims that Sowore cited statements allegedly made by him over a decade ago to justify remarks that have now become the subject of legal action.
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He described the claims as false, stressing that he never accused President Tinubu of being responsible for the death of former Lagos State governorship candidate, Chief Funso Williams, who was assassinated in 2003.
“That allegation is untrue. I never said that President Tinubu killed Funso Williams,” Fani-Kayode said.
He explained that the statement he made 11 years ago — “I am not Funso Williams; I cannot be killed like a chicken” — was delivered during the heat of the 2015 presidential campaign and had since been withdrawn after he acknowledged it was inappropriate and open to misinterpretation.
Fani-Kayode noted that the remarks were made while he served as Director of Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Presidential Campaign Organisation under former President Goodluck Jonathan.
According to him, intense political rivalries often produce harsh exchanges, describing such occurrences as common during election seasons globally.
The former minister said he left the PDP in 2020, joined the All Progressives Congress in 2021, and subsequently became a strong supporter of Tinubu.
He added that he later served as Director of New Media and Special Operations for Tinubu’s 2023 Presidential Campaign Organisation, leading a directorate of about 250 members and contributing to the president’s electoral victory.
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Fani-Kayode said he has continued to publicly defend President Tinubu and his administration since the inauguration, insisting that his actions clearly show he harbours no ill feelings toward the president.
He also stated that although Reno Omokri opposed Tinubu during the 2023 election, Omokri had since retracted his criticisms following the president’s victory and now supports his policies.
Describing attempts to link himself or Omokri to Sowore’s legal troubles as “absurd,” Fani-Kayode urged Sowore to withdraw his statements about the president or be prepared to defend them in court.
He praised President Tinubu’s magnanimity, noting that the president had shown political tolerance by welcoming former critics into his political fold.
Fani-Kayode and Omokri are among recent ambassadorial nominees appointed by President Tinubu, a move that has continued to generate mixed reactions, particularly on social media.