Femi Adesina contradicts self over Dangote’s appointment

Nigeria’s president Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, has contradicted himself as he admitted that Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, is not a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council (PCC).

“Africa’s richest man, not being a card-carrying member of APC, cannot, and is not a member of the PCC,” Adesina said,” Adesina said in a statement Friday evening.

Adesina had in a statement earlier on Friday reeled out names of member of the APC PPC which had Dangote and oil mogul Femi Otedola in the seven-man special advisory committee.

The advisory committee also includes Vice-president Yemi Osinbajo, Party chairman Adams Oshiomhole and national chairman Bola Tinubu.

It remains unclear why the advisory committee was listed as part of the PCC or whether Dangote’s exemption also applies to the other members of the committee.

Adesina’s ‘clarifications’ came after the appointment got mixed reactions from Nigerians, most of which criticised Dangote for participating in partisan politics.

Segun Awosanya, the convener of the End SARS Movement, said the appointments of the businessmen is “hypocrisy and identity politics of hate”

“It is okay for Femi Otedola and Alhaji Aliko Dangote to be on GMB’s campaign organisation in the bid to ensure he cements his reign upon the ruin of the Nation,” Awosanya tweeted on Friday.

Awosanya said that the moguls have been “enjoying monopolistic advantages and dollar grants illegal earnings” to “ensure the status remains.”

The APC launched its presidential campaign for the 2019 general election in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Friday, December 28.

At the campaign, Buhari promised to maintain his administration’s focus on ensuring national security, reviving the economy and fighting corruption since 2015 if re-elected in 2019.

Buhari, however, said his administration had fulfilled all its campaign promises in 2015, saying he deserves to be re-elected.