In the recent times, a renowned social crusader, Festus Keyamo (SAN) faced adverse criticisms over his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari; first as a board member of the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC). And recently, the legal luminary was announced as the spokesperson of the President Buhari Reelection Campaign Organization which some conceived as a betrayal of the masses.
From their inferences, Keyamo prioritized egotism; abandoning the Nigerian masses he has over two decades fearlessly represented their interests.
In their calculations, Keyamo, archetype of late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), the deceased ‘senior advocate of the masses’ (SAM) ought not to have anything to do with appointment in government let alone to serve as the arrowhead of President Buhari’s reelection bid.
By the appointment as the spokesperson, Keyamo will be championing the reelection bid of President Buhari. Candidly, a cursory look at attitudes of several activists in the past that abandoned the masses after taking up appointments will also logically frown at Keyamo’s two appointments in the present administration.
Incidentally, one must not be judged by the lifestyles of others. Without a doubt, this is a testing ground for Keyamo but obviously premature to make conclusions. The other side of the coin is that Keyamo who is incontrovertibly sound, altruistic and proficient with positive thinking is now partly in the government; thus, a good representation of the voiceless in the government. The second is that right from inception of the present administration; Keyamo has consistently stood by President Buhari’s anti-graft battle and thus, no drift by his acceptance. Moreover, the NDIC which Keyamo is a board member has so much to do with the masses welfare being the depositors’ insurer. Inarguably, Keyamo has consistently advocated for reelection even before President Buhari declared to re-contest contending that all the progresses put in place so far may end back at square one if they are not consolidated by reelecting the President.
By Carl Umegboro, Abuja