The spokesman for the 2023 APC Presidential campaign, Festus Keyamo, has come under fire for posting a video on Twitter of Tony Kabaka, an APC youth leader who controls a vast network of cultists endorsing Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the ruling party.
Keyamo posted a video showing Kabaka and other individuals singing and dancing to a remixed version of the popularised “Emi lo Kan” song in endorsement of Tinubu with the caption: ” When the jungle matures, we shall turn their mockery into songs of victory!!! We are getting ready!! Edo for @officialABAT.”
The Quest Times recalls that Kabaka was recently featured in a BBC documentary, where his membership of the Neo Black Movement (NBM) was disclosed, a group strongly linked with the dreaded Black Axe cult.
Speaking to the BBC, Kabaka who revealed that he was discovered by former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, said politicians turn to him and his network of cultists to cause mayhem during elections.
He revealed that his network spans across multiple, oftentimes warring cult groups, who are at his beck and call.
He said, “If government wants to seek for elections, they need them (cultists), they need everybody. As I am here now, I can make a call, you’ll see different colours (cult groups), they will assemble here now. Before one hour, here will be filled up.”
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In light of Keyamo’s tweet, Nigerians on Twitter expressed shock and criticised Keyamo for posting the video of a self-confessed cultist with a history of scuttling elections, endorsing Tinubu, with electoral violence a major issue ahead of the hotly contested 2023 elections.
Here are some reactions gathered by The Quest Times:
@chukzeegeorge Festus Keyamo is posting a self-confessed cultist as part of the endorsed support group for BAT reinforcing the notion that a BAT win will signal the empowerment of agberos at a national level as has already been done in Lagos.
@ayemojubar MC Oluomo in Lagos; Tony Kabaka in Edo;
@iam_Cnote Are u not ashamed to post kabaka someone that boldly accept been a cultist in the BBC documentary. Na wa oo, it a shame that people like you are leading us. So you have abandoned your core responsibilities of resolving the ASUU strike. We shall meet in Feb 2023
@eparlyHarcourt I still can’t believe this is the same Festus I watched growing up on TV years ago …The activist…
@FemiMyLord Isn’t that the same guy featured in the BBC documentary for cultism and its use in political circles. Isn’t that the black axe guy claiming he worked for Oshiomole as a political thug. Tomorrow you people will claim you don’t know the terrorists amongst us.
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@Cape_Coast Edo for APC because of Tony Kabaka? Kabaka will not be able to deliver his ward in ugbor for APC.
@firstladyship Tony Kabaka & Festus Keyamo can support who they want. The most deadly cultist can endorse Tinubu. But on D-Day, those affected by Boko Haram, bandits, depreciating Naira, hunger, ASUU Strike, maddest inflation, Police brutality, will vote for Peter Obi. DID I MAKE SENSE?
@uzoemesiani Shameless Festus Keyamo. Come to think that this guy is a Lawyer. You and Tony Kabaka can do nothing. You will all go into Oblivion when Obi becomes President. We the Conscientious Citizens of this Nation will vote Peter Obi. Enough is Enough.
@IamTheIroko Tony Kabaka with zero value in Edo state is whom failed Minister of State of Labour Festus Keyamo and the Tinubu camp are hoping on to deliver Edo state. Kabaka no tell Una wetin e eye see for the last election? We’ll make una bring money make kabaka recoup e loses for Benin.
@the_bigdot politics will make you do stupid things, imagine a man like Festus Keyamo enabling Tony kabaka on his platform. politics will make you insult your own intelligence
@BenEt_II Festus Keyamo brandishing Tony Kabaka in our faces like a common thug brandishes a locally made pistol. It is not a strategy we’re unfamiliar with, MC Oluomo, Tony Kabaka, who else? A leopard never changes its spots.