Why I Meet President Jonathan --Fani-Kayode

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday met behind closed doors with a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Fani-Kayode, who is one of the major critics of the Jonathan administration, attended the meeting which was held inside the President’s office with an unidentified man.

He, however, told state house correspondents at the end of the meeting that lasted about an hour, that there was nothing unusual in his visit to  the President, saying he was delighted he did so.

“This is a Presidential Villa, the President is a President of Nigeria and every single person in this country that is a Nigerian is entitled to come here from time to time, when the doors are open to come and pay their respect to the wonderful people that are here. As a Nigerian, I have done that today and I am delighted to be here,” he said.

On his previous criticism of the President and his government, Fani-Kayode said the most important thing was for people with different positions on issues to resolve their differences and come together to move the country forward.

He said every right thinking and responsible Nigerian should be able to visit the President from time to time and help to move the nation forward.

He, however, declined to give details of what he discussed with the President during the meeting.

The former minister also said he would make his decision on whether to leave the All Progressives Congress or not known to Nigerians at the appropriate time.

He said, “The step that I will take will be made known to Nigerians at the right time.

“The most important thing and I think you are fully aware of this is that I cannot and I will not be associated with a situation whereby any group of people is promoting a religion above another.

“I think all of us have gone past the stage of  religious politics in this country. We must treat the Muslim community with utmost respect and we must treat the Christian community in the same way and even the non-religious.”