A copy of the letter dated, February 8, 2017 and signed by the group’s National Coordinator, Tade Adebiyi, was sent to the United States Ambassador to Nigeria. The group recalled that the US Seventh Circuit Court of Appeal recently upheld the judgment of a lower court that Kashamu should be brought to trial in the US. It noted that Kashamu’s case remained a big minus for the Muhammadu Buhari administration, adding that Nigerians abroad were being subjected to ridicule because of the case. The group recalled that the Senator, representing Ogun East had been “patronising President Muhammadu Buhari through newspaper interviews and advertorials.” It added, “We are therefore forced to ask: Is Buruji Kashamu bigger than Nigeria? Is his romance with your party, the reason he is still left untouched? Is it true that Senator Kashamu is defecting or has defected secretly to the APC?” The coalition urged the Acting President to ensure the handover of Kashamu “to the United States of America and save our nationals further ridicule, especially in the new era of President Donald Trump.” Reacting to the letter, Kashamu described the group as faceless and one of those allegedly being sponsored by his political detractors, including Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose. The Ogun East Senatorial District lawmaker, who spoke through his media aide, Mr. Austin Oniyokor, faulted those calling for his extradition to the US. He said, “The first question to ask (the group) is, ‘Is there any extradition proceeding anywhere?’ It is not enough for any group or politician to just go and form a group. If there is no extradition proceeding, the government should just pick Kashamu and give him to the US? “There is no extradition proceeding anywhere. So, on what basis will the Federal Government hand over Kashamu to the US government? If there is any extradition proceeding, let them bring it. And if there is any request for his extradition, let them bring it.” When asked if he was sure that Fayose was the sponsor of the group, Oniyokor stated, “I am telling you that Kashamu’s political opponents are the ones behind the group that has been publishing such. This is not the first time. What is their interest?” Fayose, who is the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Governors Forum, said he was not prepared to take issue with Kashamu. His Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, who reacted on his behalf, said the business of the governor was on how to unite members for the challenges ahead. “He is interested on how to return PDP to winning ways and how to promote unity among members. “The governor is preoccupied with things that will promote the cause of the party and return it to power at the centre. So we have no comment,” he said. It will be recalled that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on January 30, said it would push for the arrest of Kashamu. The agency said it had been “emboldened and strengthened” by the latest ruling of the US court, which said that the senator must face drug charges.]]>