I lost my place in Buhari’s cabinet due to ‘Idealogical reasons’ – Falana

Femi Falana, a leading human rights lawyer and activist, claims President Muhammadu Buhari did not make him a minister for “ideological reasons”. He said some people were not favorably disposed to his “too radical” nature and feel he should not be made attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice.

Predictions that he would be appointed minister were widespread, but Buhari opted for Kayode Fayemi. Fayemi, a former governor of Ekiti State, worked closely with Buhari during the presidential campaign.

Confirming the speculations to The Interview magazine which is currently on sale, Falana said: “I was actually contacted. I was actually invited to come on board. It took me appreciable time to make up my mind. Along the way, I was made to understand there were people who were opposed to my appointment for ideological reasons. It is their right to do so.” He said the appointment of ministers is within the “exclusive discretion of the president” and that he had put the episode behind him. “For me, it would have been a call to service, not to make money,” he said.

“Those who believed… that I should mobilise people to put in a word for me, or wanted me to speak to somebody I fought on principle several years ago were, of course, disappointed. This guy actually headed one of the universities at a time students were killed. “I had to support the students’ cause at that time. You don’t then expect me to go to him and swallow my vomit. This is what I mean by the ideological price.” Falana said there were also “certain leaders” of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that opposed his appointment because he was not a member of the party.


“Of course, they are right. Certain people wanted me to be opportunistic by offering to backdate a membership card for me. I said, ‘no, over my dead body’. I wasn’t looking for a job. I was gainfully employed.”