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.”
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")