Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has advised the Nigerian government to do more in the fight against Boko Haram terrorism and national security.
He said this in reaction to President Donald Trump’s appointment of Richard Grenell, as the acting United States Director of National Intelligence.
The former presidential aide expressed delight at the appointment and advised the Buhari administration to brace up and be ready for Grenell.
Fani-Kayode stated that Grenell is now the most powerful man in America in terms of intelligence-gathering, espionage and security matters.
The outspoken critic said the envoy recognizes the strategic importance of Nigeria to the United States and fully appreciates “what we are being subjected to by the present administration”.
“He has a deep interest in our affairs, he cares for us and he knows the mess that we put ourselves in by electing Buhari and allowing him to steal his mandate both in 2015 and 2019.
“Needless to say, the events of the last five years have vindicated him and proved him right. They have vindicated and proved yours truly right as well,” he added.
In 2015, Grenell in an article titled “Nigeria On The Brink” published on Washington Times, warned Nigerians against electing General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) as President.
The current Ambassador to Germany noted that “Buhari had spoken sympathetically about members of the terrorist group, Boko Haram”.
Grenell declared that Buhari’s election as Nigeria’s head of state would be a disaster for Africa.
The verdict rattled the All Progressives Congress (APC). The ruling party called the new US Intelligence chief a paid agent of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Garba Shehu, who was then APC Presidential Campaign media director, labelled Grenell’s opinion “provocative”.
He described it as an” advertisement by a failed President (Goodluck Jonathan) and his ruinous party, the PDP, to tarnish the hard won credibility and integrity of Buhari”.
After Buhari assumed office in 2015, he appointed Shehu as his senior special assistant on media and publicity.
The president retained Shehu, a former media adviser to former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, for the same position in 2019.
