Falana: Why Buhari didn’t make me minister
Femi Falana, human rights lawyer and activist, says President Muhammadu Buhari did not appoint him a minister for “ideological reasons”.
He said some people believed that he was “too radical” and should not be made attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice.
Speculations that he would be appointed minister were widespread, but Buhari picked Kayode Fayemi from Ekiti state.
Fayemi was governor of the state and worked closely with Buhari during the presidential election.
Confirming the speculations to The Interview magazine which is currently on sale, Falana said: “I was actually contacted. I was actually invited to come on board. It took me appreciable time to make up my mind. Along the way, I was made to understand there were people who were opposed to my appointment for ideological reasons. It is their right to do so.”
He said the appointment of ministers is within the “exclusive discretion of the president” and that he had put the episode behind him.
“For me, it would have been a call to service, not to make money,” he said.
“Those who believed… that I should mobilise people to put in a word for me, or wanted me to speak to somebody I fought on principle several years ago were, of course, disappointed. This guy actually headed one of the universities at a time students were killed.
“I had to support the students’ cause at that time. You don’t then expect me to go to him and swallow my vomit. This is what I mean by the ideological price.”
Falana said there were also “certain leaders” of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that opposed his appointment because he was not a member of the party.
“Of course, they are right. Certain people wanted me to be opportunistic by offering to backdate a membership card for me. I said, ‘no, over my dead body’. I wasn’t looking for a job. I was gainfully employed.”
Why will you be made a minister when you always speak with both sides of your mouth
@ Isaac lol u are actually right I didn’t stay in one place u will see him talking in side of party A tomorow u will see Jim in favour of party B and more so he might not be easily controlled by who is who in Apc.
Wht do u mean by sayn dt he speaks wt both sides of his mouth?
I don’t know what you mean by speaking from both mouths. If you base your actions you will always meet and part with people as long as they meet up with the ideological principles that guide your actions. That’s how Falana is. He is not expected to stand by you through thick and thin but as long as you walk the same path. He is still the man. What is consistent is the ideology. What you think is inconsistent is the people as they move in and out of that ideology. If what he said above, is true, he is still in line. More people will still leave Buhari’s administration on ideological grounds. He has given false hope and bitten more than he can chew.
I completely agree with u. I witnessed it first hand
Stick to your ideology sir.You are a man of Principle and NOT being a minister does not forestall you from contributing your own quota to the growth and development of this nation to sound criticism and legal advice.
Speaking very seriously, did anyone rational expect otherwise when on merit
he stood to neck with JKF who was a politician from PMB’s party and the constitution prescribed one appointment per state?
You are not a honorable man. It is also sad that u chose this profession. I am personally glad the President did not make u minister. You bite more than you can chew. Always
you turn yourself to begi begi for governor yet you were refuced. now you say it was because of ideology!! which kind ideology?? bread and butter ideology
Femi Falana, like Gani Fawehinmi, is an uncompromising and sometimes controversial person. However, all serious persons know where they stand with him. He is like a straight line on national issues; almost always left-of-centre. I commend him for holding fast to his principles. Nigeria is better for it.
I salute him for being so resolute.
Viva New Nigeria!
Persons like lybeea will fine it hard to get to the top for running their mouth wide at an honourable man like Falana, if you think is eassy to rise from middle of no where to the top in a society like nigeria then i challenge you to rise to the top and do better than him
Your comment..
Falana is a “man of integrity, person like him will mostly be opposed by evil drain hearted Nigerian. Continues Ur cross God will surely reward U.