Media entrepreneur and former presidential aspirant, Dele Momodu, has issued a stern warning to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to reconsider his support for the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, ahead of the 2027 elections.
Appearing on Channels TV’s Politics Today, Momodu slammed Wike’s recent televised outbursts, where the minister lashed out at political opponents and former allies, describing his conduct as reckless and unfit for higher office.
“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. Not the kind of man who should hijack our collective patrimony,” Momodu declared.
Recounting his personal fallout with the FCT minister, the former PDP presidential hopeful traced their conflict to the 2023 elections. He said he had informed Wike of his intention to run, only to discover that the ticket had become financially out of reach.
“Wike had raised the stakes to \$30,000 per delegate. That’s over N17 billion. Even if I sold my entire family, I couldn’t raise that kind of money,” he said.
Momodu further accused Wike of ridiculing his candidacy.
“He went on air and laughed at me, asking what someone like me who lives on Twitter was doing in the race. That’s when I knew this wasn’t just politics, it was personal,” he added.
Despite their past association, Momodu insisted his media outfit significantly enhanced Wike’s public image.
“We helped polish his image. We trained him in public speaking. But you can take a man out of the bush; you can’t take the bush out of the man,” he said.
Reflecting on Wike’s early political journey, Momodu noted a stark shift in behaviour following his rise to power.
“After becoming chairman of Obiakpor Local Government, that was when his metamorphosis started. In Nigeria, power brings money, and money can become demonic if not managed,” he stated.
He likened Wike’s current temperament to someone under the influence of substances.
“What I saw on display last Friday was a man soaked in esoteric spirits. Alcohol and drugs often have the same effect,” Momodu concluded.
