Respected lawyer, Femi Falana has pointed accusing fingers at some leaders of the All Progressives Congress for his failure to become a minister after rumours had circulated in the media space that he would be appointed a minister by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Falana said the leaders, whom he did not name, blocked the bid because of “ideological reasons”.
According to him, some people told him he was “too radical” and should not be made the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, The Cable reported.
In an interview with The Interview magazine, 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.”
Furthermore, he said he saw the opportunity to become a minister as a call to service and not for self-aggrandisement.
While stressing that he had put the experience behind him, Falana stated that he had to disappoint some people who felt he should go cap in hand to plead with some entrenched interests to put a good word in for him.
He said the individual he was told to beg was someone he fought when he headed a university at a time students were killed.
Falana said: “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.”
The Ekiti State ministerial slot was filled by the former governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who was given the portfolio of Minister of Solid Minerals.