Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has accused veteran journalist and Ovation publisher, Dele Momodu, of political hypocrisy and financial opportunism.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Olayinka alleged that Momodu’s loyalty to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is driven by monetary gain, asserting that the moment Atiku ceases to fund him, Momodu would quickly abandon the relationship.
“Only someone like Dele Momodu, who operates solely on stomach infrastructure, would accuse Wike of driving Peter Obi out of the PDP,” Olayinka said. “His ignorance or selective memory is both laughable and dangerous.”
The FCT Minister’s spokesperson went further to blame Atiku for being a divisive figure within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), claiming he has been a stumbling block since 2003.
“Atiku has been the instrument used to weaken the PDP, beginning with the sabotage of the party’s bid to take Lagos in 2003. He is no unifier; his ambition has consistently torn the party apart,” Olayinka alleged.
Reacting to Momodu’s statement that Atiku wanted the PDP to zone its 2023 presidential ticket to the Southeast, Olayinka dismissed it as dishonest. “Why did Atiku purchase the Expression of Interest form even before zoning was determined? That alone debunks the claim.”
He also reminded the public of the mass defection of Atiku’s allies after both the 2019 and 2023 elections: “Was it Wike who told Senator Gbenga Daniel, Atiku’s campaign DG in 2019, to quit PDP? Did Wike convince his 2023 running mate, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, to walk away from the party? What about Udom Emmanuel, who chaired the 2023 campaign—his successor is also on his way out.”
According to Olayinka, this pattern reflects Atiku’s self-centered politics: “The only explanation is that Atiku is in it for himself. He uses people, then discards them—and they, in turn, abandon him after every election.”
On Momodu’s claim that Wike distanced himself from the Southeast, Olayinka fired back: “Wike is a proud Ikwerre man. Unlike Dele Momodu, who seems unsure of his Edo roots, Wike knows who he is and where he stands.”
Concluding his remarks, Olayinka branded Momodu a “fair-weather friend,” whose loyalty is dictated by bank alerts. “All this noise is because Atiku is still paying him. Once the money dries up, Momodu will move on to his next benefactor.”
