Veteran journalist and publisher of Ovation International, Dele Momodu, has issued a stern warning to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him not to promote Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, as a key political figure ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Momodu described Wike as a political liability whose erratic behaviour and questionable character should disqualify him from occupying positions of greater national influence.
“My appeal to President Bola Tinubu is that no matter what you are expecting to gain from Wike in 2027, he is not the kind of character you should promote,” Momodu said. “Not the kind of man who should hijack our collective patrimony.”
Fallout With Wike
Momodu, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), revealed that his personal fallout with Wike stemmed from their conflicting presidential ambitions. He disclosed that he had formally written to inform Wike of his intent to run, but was later discouraged by a former president due to the exorbitant cost of the PDP ticket.
“Wike had raised the stakes to $30,000 per delegate. That’s over ₦17 billion. Even if I sold my entire family, I couldn’t raise that kind of money,” he said.
Reaction to Wike’s Recent Outburst
Momodu’s comments follow Wike’s recent television appearance where the FCT Minister lashed out at political rivals and ex-associates, further fuelling concerns about his temperament and leadership style. Momodu characterized Wike’s outburst as “a public display of someone who has lost control.”
Political observers believe Momodu’s remarks reflect broader discontent within the PDP over Wike’s allegiance to the All Progressives Congress (APC) despite holding a federal appointment under the Tinubu-led administration.
