Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has accused Dele Momodu, the publisher of Ovation Magazine, of backing former vice president Atiku Abubakar for financial gains.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Olayinka branded Momodu as a “fair-weather friend” who is solely devoted to Atiku for financial reasons, claiming that the media entrepreneur would swiftly forsake the former vice president if the monetary flow stopped.
“We are hearing all this noise from him because Atiku is paying his bills. Let Atiku stop paying; Oga Dele Momodu will move to the next victim,” Olayinka said.
Olayinka responded to Momodu’s recent claim that Wike was responsible for Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi’s withdrawal from the Peoples Democratic Party, calling the charge ridiculous.
“Only someone like Dele Momodu, who does not have knowledge of anything apart from his stomach, would claim that it was Wike that drove Peter Obi out of the PDP,” he said.
Olayinka also accused Atiku of being a divisive figure within the PDP, alleging that the former vice president had sabotaged the party’s efforts since 2003, including its unsuccessful bid to win Lagos State.
“Atiku has been the weapon fashioned against the PDP since he frustrated the party’s efforts to win Lagos State in 2003,” he said.
Olayinka responded to Momodu’s recent claim that Wike was responsible for Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi’s withdrawal from the Peoples Democratic Party, calling the charge ridiculous.
“Dele Momodu claimed Atiku wanted the PDP to field a candidate from the South-East but conveniently ignored the fact that Atiku had already declared his interest,” he said.
Olayinka noted the departure of major PDP stakeholders, including former campaign director Senator Gbenga Daniel and Atiku’s 2023 running partner Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, as proof of internal displeasure with Atiku’s leadership.
“Was it Wike that made Senator Gbenga Daniel, who was the Director General of Atiku’s 2019 campaign, leave PDP barely two weeks after the election? Was it Wike that made Dr Ifeanyi Okowa leave the PDP?” he queried.
He claimed that former Akwa Ibom Governor Udom Emmanuel, who led Atiku’s 2023 campaign, and his successor, Governor Umo Eno, were both leaving the party.
“The question is, why did everyone who worked closely with Atiku during the 2019 and 2023 elections leave him afterwards? The reason can only be because someone is a selfish person who is only about himself alone,” he added.
Attempts to reach Atiku’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, and Dele Momodu for comment were unsuccessful as of the time of reporting this report.
Momodu’s line was disconnected, and calls to Ibe went unanswered. Messages sent to both parties were not returned.
