Dele Momodu: Nigeria Now Has Two Presidents

Ovasion Magazine publisher Dele Momodu has accused the Minister of the Federal capital territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike of behaving as if he’s Nigeria’s President and Commander-in-chief.

Wike, a former governor of Rivers state and a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was appointed into the position by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Momodu, a former Presidential candidate of the PDP and an ardent critic of the minister said Wike now behave like na alternate president to Tinubu who appointed him as FCT Minister.

Momodu spoke on Channels Television Programme, The Morning Brief on Wednesday, in his reaction to President Tinubu’s affirmation of Wike’s efforts in transforming the FCT.

President Tinubu had while commissioning the International Conference Centre, ICC, rehabilitated by the FCDA praised the minister, urging him to ignore those the president described as ‘busybodies’ and ‘bystanders who are trying to distract him from achieving his aims for the FCT.

The popular journalist said the president has allowed the minister to do what he likes in the country, suggesting that President Tinubu is treating Wike as if he’s an alternate president to him.

Momodu: “I listened to the President refer to concerned Nigerians as ‘busybodies’ and ‘bystanders.’ Who is a bystander in his own country? All because of one man—Wike.”

” Wike was dancing after commissioning a centre said to have cost over ₦30 billion. Right now, it feels like we have two presidents in Nigeria.”

While commissioning the ICC, the minister accused some people of trying to stop him,  to which President Tinubu told him to go ahead without looking back.

“Don’t pay attention to the busybody and the bystanders. Whatever they say, continue with your good work. You’re a transformational leader, you have the foresight and determination to succeed,” Tinubu said. 

The ICC built by the regime of military dictator, Gen Ibrahim Babangida cost N350 million, at the time according to checks by the magazine, but was recently renovated with N30 billion  by the Minister.