Femi Fani-Kayode has suggested that ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s father may have been of Igbo, rather than fully Yoruba. This follows a recent comment made by Igbo businessman Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, who referred to Yoruba people as “political rascals”. Fani-Kayode believes that Obasanjo’s silence on the matter is telling, and suggests that it could be an indication of his father’s ethnic background.
In response to Iwuanyanwu’s comments, Fani-Kayode expressed his disappointment that Obasanjo had remained silent. He took to Twitter, stating that
“the fact that our revered leader and one of the fathers of our nation, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, could sit there and say nothing when Emmanuel Iwanyanwu… describes the whole Yoruba race as ‘rascals’ that the Igbo ‘will DEAL with’ let’s me know that the rumour that he isn’t a fully-fledged Yoruba man and that his father was an Igbo is probably true”.
Fani-Kayode went on to say that something had changed in Obasanjo, whom he had previously respected and defended. He added that no one could have made such a statement in the presence of the old Obasanjo without consequences.
The controversy stems from a face-off between Yorubas and Igbos in Lagos following the outcome of the presidential election. The fallout was because of the victory of the Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, in Lagos State. As a result, Igbos were warned against voting during the governorship election in Lagos.
It is important to note that Fani-Kayode’s comments are based on speculation and have not been confirmed.
