Dele Momodu, publisher of Ovation magazine and a former presidential aspirant, has made startling allegations against Nyesom Wike, the current minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), claiming that Wike paid delegates $30,000 each during the 2022 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primaries.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Momodu, who also contested in the primaries, said a former Nigerian president had advised him to withdraw from the race due to the scale of financial inducements involved.
“A former president of Nigeria sent someone to tell me not to waste my money on the PDP 2022 primaries because Wike had raised the stakes to $30k per delegate; $30k multiplied by 774 delegates,” he said.
The PDP primaries eventually produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s flagbearer. Momodu, however, expressed disappointment in the conduct of Wike during the contest.
“What I expected of him was that if you weren’t going to support a man, if you’re going to run, run a fair race, and let’s leave it there,” he added.
The media mogul also took issue with the minster’s conduct since assuming his ministerial position, noting what he perceives as a drastic change in character.
“When a man who had been a nobody gets power, he begins to change slowly and steadily,” Momodu said.
He suggested that the former Rivers State governor, who previously held great respect for former transportation minister Rotimi Amaechi, no longer shows such deference.
“The oppressed man respects only one man: the oppressor. Wike used to respect only one man—Rotimi Amaechi.”
Momodu further alleged that the FCT minister now exhibits troubling personal habits.
“Wike is consumed by the power he holds. The spirit of power and money is demonic when not managed properly,” he stated.
“He drinks early in the morning. He introduced me to Akeshi, a strong alcohol, saying it helps him function. This is someone in public office.”
Momodu appealed to President Bola Tinubu to reconsider the FCT minister’s political future, especially ahead of the 2027 elections.
“My appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is that no matter what you are expecting to gain from Wike in 2027, Wike is not the kind of character you should promote; he is not the kind of young man who should hijack our common patrimony.”
