Jude Ndukwe: Fani-Kayode, Cambridge, Ugwu and a dog that doesn’t hear its master’s whistle

The obsession of Emmanuel Uchenna Ugwu of Chief Femi Fani-Kayode is one that has assumed a frightening proportion to the extent that one really needs to call in renowned exorcists to help get him completely extricated from the shackles of suspected demonic possession that lead a man of puerile mind to excessive obsession of another man’s name and heights.

Emmanuel Ugwu also needs to be cured of rapacious avarice that has made him work for his paymaster far beyond their agreed terms all in a bid to get a fatter cheque for unsolicited extra work.

Beyond a paycheque from his disturbed masters, Ugwu also desperately seeks attention and nobody seems to be giving it to him, nobody has ever given it to him and nobody will ever give it to him, no, not anybody in the status of Chief Femi Fani-Kayode whose fine class and royal heritage Ugwu baselessly, ceaselessly but unsuccessfully attempts to smear.

Nobody near him can attract the kind of attention he needed from the high and the mighty, not even his paymasters. To direct attention and focus to himself, he had to look far and high for someone whose name is famous and earthshaking. Unfortunately for him, he and his manipulators found a target in Fani-Kayode.

And I think he is enjoying the attention the name is giving him. Suddenly, one Ugwu becomes someone writing using a pseudonym to attract attention on behalf of himself and his masters while at the same time diverting attention from issues on ground.

To focus on Fani-Kayode’s educational background as if he had been given a term paper to do was to say the least, astonishing. In his essay, “Fani-Kayode and his Wasted Cambridge Education”, Ugwu perspired terribly and tried desperately to tarnish the hard-earned Cambridge background of Femi.

It is quite amazing how some people stunt their own progress by besmirching those far greater than them in all ramifications for no just cause other than jealousy, the need to assuage their hunger and even greed. An African proverb says those who pay respect to the great pave way for their own greatness. The same way those who do not pay respect to the great pave way for their own mediocrity. It is a natural law of life.

Chief Fani-Kayode comes from a family that takes education very seriously. His lineage is decorated with flowery and sound academic achievements from some of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in the world. And this did not start with FFK as he is known in friendly circles.

It may interest Ugwu and his sponsors to know that Fani-Kayode’s great grandfather, the Rev Emmanuel Adedayo Kayode was one of the earliest Nigerians to be educated in England and obtained an MA from the University of Durham after which he became an Anglican priest.

His grandfather, Victor Adedapo Kayode, studied Law at Cambridge University and rose to become a judge. His father, Chief Victor Babaremilekun Adetokunboh Fani-Kayode also studied Law at Cambridge University and graduated as the best student in his set.

Then comes Fani-Kayode himself. He started his education at the age of 8 at Brighton College, Brighton in the UK after which he went to Holmewood House School in Turnbridge Wells, Kent, South-East England.

He entered Harrow School in Harrow on the Hill, United Kingdom and later into Kelly College in Tavistock, UK, where he completed the rest of his public school education. In 1980 Femi Fani-Kayode went to the University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies, where he graduated with an LL.B law degree in 1983.

He entered Cambridge University where his grandfather, his father and his older brother, Akinola had all previously read Law. Victor Adedapo Kayode, Femi’s grandfather, was called to the British Bar in 1922 and his father, Chief Remi Fani-Kayode, was called to the British Bar in 1945.

After finishing from Cambridge, Femi Fani-Kayode went to the Nigerian Law School and in 1985 was called to the Nigerian Bar. Let it also be noted that Chief Remi Fani-Kayode was the one who, in July, 1958, successfully moved the motion that led to Nigeria’s independence in 1960.

Apart from the family’s rich educational background, their political heritage is envious to the point of eliciting fatal jealousy from the Ugwus. There is no gainsaying the fact that Fani-Kayode has also served at some of the highest levels in the country.

One is therefore not surprised that Ugwu is consternated at the ever-growing and glowing sterling qualities running through this noble and highly courageous family of indefatigable warriors. Not even the Tinubus or the Buharis of this world can stop a man of destiny anointed to speak for the oppressed and the voiceless.

Ugwu therefore is too small to attract attention from Femi. Am even sure FFK is not even aware of his sponsored tirades. Highly successful people are usually oblivious of the existence of the unruly, the crude and the rude.

As for this writer, Ugwu should do his search before drawing any conclusion. I am not faceless, I am not anonymous and I am not a proxy for anyone. I write forthrightly and fearlessly in defence of truth and freedom.

I take up the fight for those who are unduly riled for freely expressing their opinions or pursuing their dreams or promoting their beliefs without hurting anyone. Emmanuel Ugwu should do some checks himself and confirm this.

I am not a Fulani hiding under the name of a fabricated Igbo name just to cause disaffection among Nigerians. Yes, it is Emmanuel Uchenna Ugwu who is not real. He is the one who has eaten up his own identity and denied his proud stock just for a pot of porridge. We know his type.

They can do anything including denying their heritage as long as crumbs keep falling from the tables of Buhari and Tinubu. They are men whose pens are quick to flow but who find it extremely laborious to protect and promote their heritage.

Finally, and when I say finally, I mean this is the last time I will be writing to correct people like Ugwu because they obviously are incorrigible. Let me end this piece by quoting Dele Momodu from a piece he wrote in ThisDay newspaper of December 17, 2011, titled “The Dog, the Hunter and the Whistle”: “Just imagine a dog following his owner, the hunter, to the wilderness. The hunter is very famous for his awesome powers. His renown extends beyond the hills and the mountains. Everyone respects this hunter but not his wayward dog that sees the owner as its mate. This dog believes it can survive any evil terrain without the protection of the fearsome hunter. On one of their expeditions, the dog chose to follow its instinct and went in a different direction, and thereby went astray.

By the time the owner realised what had happened, he searched everywhere for his dog. He thought he should attract some attention by blowing his whistle ceaselessly, but the dog had developed chronic hearing deficiencies and could not hear the distress call that was being made on its behalf. All efforts to find the dog thus came to nought.

The hunter definitely tried his best. It was not his fault that the dog not only strayed away but went beyond the distance where he could hear the hunter’s whistle, if it was possible at all. The moral in this is that a dog is a naturally smart animal but not all the time. On many occasions, the dog protects the master, and can smell him from afar.

But when the dog begins to bark at the owner, it is time to start suspecting it is exhibiting traces of rabies. And if nothing is done quickly about the affliction, the dog may soon bite the owner. The other ailment that can render a dog useless is when it can no longer smell or recognise the owner.”

If Ugwu has ears, let him hear!

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Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija

The author, Jude Ndukwe, can be reached via [email protected] and on Twitter: @stjudendukwe

 

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