Keyamo mocks ADC coalition, calls their tactics ‘expired 419 formats’
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), has ridiculed the rising confidence of the opposition coalition to unseat the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing their political manoeuvres as outdated ‘419 formats’ that no longer fool Nigerians.
Speaking during a televised interview, Keyamo said Nigerians have become more politically discerning and are aware of the opposition’s gimmicks, which he claimed are nothing more than recycled strategies dressed up for public appeal.
“I know them very well, and they know us very well. These tactics they are employing are expired. They are 419 formats that have been used over the years. I was an EFCC prosecutor. I know those formats. Nigerians know them too. You cannot deceive Nigerians with these expired formats again,” he said.
Keyamo accused the opposition of manipulating economic data and amplifying isolated incidents to project a false image of national failure.
“Reeling out figures, picking up isolated incidents of some indices, and using it for generalisation. Nigerians are wiser than that,” he added.
He acknowledged that inflation remains a challenge but insisted that macroeconomic indicators are improving under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
“Inflation is coming down. The Naira has been steady. Foreign reserves are rising. Government revenues are rising. These are indices of a healthy economy. The trickle-down effect will soon reflect in job creation and improved living conditions,” he assured.
On the strength of the opposition, Keyamo maintained that the APC remains robust and well-positioned.
“You say they are getting stronger; is the APC getting weaker? No. We have the demography. We have the structures. We are not strangers to this game. They are not bringing anything new. It’s the same confused coalition the President once described as ‘a coalition of confused people,’” he said.
He also took a swipe at prominent opposition figures, accusing one of living lavishly while pretending to fight for ordinary Nigerians.
“I saw one of them huffing and puffing on one of your programmes, talking about rescuing Nigerians. That person displays 500 cars in his garage and is telling Nigerians he wants to rescue them. Nigerians are not fools,” Keyamo stated.
Reacting to reported plans to merge the political camps of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, Keyamo predicted failure.
He argued such a coalition would lose the unique factors that drove Obi’s 2023 appeal.
“If they make Obi deputy to Atiku, two of the three demographic factors that delivered Obi’s votes will collapse,” he said, citing the Christian bloc, the South-East sentiment, and the youth-driven ‘Obidient’ movement.
He concluded that APC’s northern base remains solid and loyal.
“We have the structures in the North. Governors, senators, Buhari’s people. Buhari’s 12 million votes are still there, loyal to the APC,” he said.
Keyamo, who previously served as chief spokesperson for two presidential campaigns, expressed confidence in APC’s future prospects.
“I’ve been called a political Nostradamus. Play back my tapes from 2019 and 2023. I told you where we would win and lose. This time around, we are even more grounded,” he declared.
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