Femi Fani-Kayode, a former minister of aviation, has received the COVID-19 vaccine months after initially castigating it and advising Nigerians not to get it.
Fani-Kayode received his first jab of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine at the National Hospital, Abuja, on Tuesday.
In a series of Twitter posts last year, the former minister questioned the rationale behind the development of the vaccine and inoculation of people, saying it will lead to millions of deaths in Nigeria. He had also claimed that the vaccine was a plot by Bill Gates, former chairman of Microsoft and current Chairman of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to reduce Africa’s population.
But in an apparent backtrack, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart on Tuesday said he was convinced by “sound logic and superior reasoning” by a former senator, Grace Bent.
He admitted that no one would have convinced him up to one month ago to receive the vaccine, but explained that he changed his mind because people close to him insisted that he must remain healthy and safe at all times.
While thanking members of staff of the National Hospital for their warm reception, Fani-Kayode recommended that everybody should take the vaccine for their safety.
The former presidential spokesperson noted that if his hero, former US president, Donald Trump, could receive the vaccine despite criticising it, then he (Fani-Kayode) can also be inoculated.
Despite my initially strong reservations I bowed to sound logic and superior reasoning and took my Covid 19 vaccine today.
This is thanks to my sister tje distinguished Senator Grace Bent who convinced me to take it and who emphasised that we must set an example to others. 1/ pic.twitter.com/wxFRk3lzAp
— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) March 30, 2021
“I also give thanks to my sister Hon. Patricia Etteh, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, who is the Chairman of the National Hospital & who not only let me eat all HER lunch in her office before the exercise took place but who also gave us a warm reception & guided us through the whole exercise. Her whole team and staff at the hospital were simply wonderful & very efficient & supportive & consequently the whole exercise was very pleasant.
“This is a clear case of “never say never”. If anyone had told me that I would take this vaccine up until one month ago I would have said “no way”. I am glad that I changed my mind & did so because it has brought comfort to many around me who insisted that I must stay healthy & safe at all costs.
“I recommend the vaccine to others and I assure you that National Hospital in Abuja is a great place to take it. Covid is real & has killed many people, including dozens that I knew & loved, over the last one year. Let us fulfil all righteousness, follow the protocols, sanitise regularly, maintain social distancing, stay healthy, stay safe, stay blessed and live long to take care of all our children and loved ones.
“Finally, let me add this: if my hero President Donald J. Trump can take the vaccine even after criticising and questioning it then so can I. Blessings! Peace! Shalom!” Fani-Kayode tweeted.
