Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has thrown heavy shade at veteran journalist and former presidential aspirant, Dele Momodu.
During a media chat with select journalists on Thursday, Wike mocked Momodu, calling him a ‘boy’ and claiming he does not even know his name.
“There is this boy, they say he is a journalist. What’s his name? He is big,” Wike said.
When a journalist mentioned Dele Momodu’s name, Wike replied, “Okay, I don’t remember all these names. He was never my friend. He ran for president but didn’t get one vote.”
Wike’s attack may not be unconnected to Momodu’s constant criticism of his political antics. Momodu had recently claimed that Wike cannot defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) because he would lose his authority.
Reacting to Wike’s insults, Momodu has described the FCT Minister as someone who speaks as if he is Nigeria’s founding father.
Speaking on Arise News, Momodu said, “Wike talks like he owns Nigeria. Power is transient. He should know that no matter how powerful he feels today, it will end one day.”
Momodu, who recently endorsed the newly formed African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition, also used the opportunity to warn President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against jeopardising Nigeria’s democracy in his quest for a second term.
He urged Tinubu to remember his pro-democracy roots and think deeply about how his decisions would affect his legacy.
“Once upon a time, you were one of our leaders when we were fighting for this democracy,” Momodu said.
“So what shall it profit you, if you can do two terms, three terms, or even rule forever, but at the end of the day, your name enters the book of ignominy? If I meet him today, that’s the question I will ask: is it worth it?”
Momodu added that Tinubu has already achieved what revered leaders like Obafemi Awolowo, MKO Abiola, and Nnamdi Azikiwe never achieved – becoming Nigeria’s President.
