By Sarah NEGEDU
The Publisher of Ovation Magazine, Dele Momodu, has been described as a fairweather ally of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, who is only with him for personal gains
According to the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, Lere Olayinka, Momodu would abandon the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party as soon as the financial support he is getting from him ceases.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Olayinka dismissed Momodu’s recent claims that his principal, Nyesom Wike, was responsible for Peter Obi’s departure from the PDP.
“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,” Olayinka said, questioning Momodu’s understanding of the situation.
Olayinka further reiterated his longstanding criticism of Atiku, pointing to the former vice president’s history within the party. “Atiku has been the weapon fashioned against the PDP since he frustrated the party’s efforts to win Lagos State in 2003,” he asserted, accusing Atiku of hindering the PDP’s success over the years.
Addressing Momodu’s statements regarding Atiku’s political ambitions, Olayinka accused the journalist of spreading misinformation about the 2023 elections.
He said it was funny that a journalist of Momodu’s caliber could go on national television to lie that Atiku wanted the PDP to cede power to the Southeast in 2023, asking why Atiku obtained Expression of Interest Form to contest for the PDP presidential ticket even when the Zoning Committee was yet to decide on zoning arrangement.
“In his display of arrogance or mischief, Dele Momodu claimed that Atiku wanted PDP to field presidential candidate from the eastern part of the country, but he chose not to mention that the same Atiku had obtained Expression of Interest Form even when no decision had been taken on zoning.
“Also, was it Wike that made it Senator Gbenga Daniel, who was the Director General of Atiku Campaign to leave PDP less than two weeks after the 2019 presidential election?
“Was it Wike that made Atiku’s running mate in the 2023 election, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa to leave the PDP? Former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel was the Chairman of the PDP Presidential Campaign in 2023, his successor, Governor Umo Eno is on his way out of the PDP.
“The question is, why did everyone who worked closely with Atiku during the 2019 and 2023 leave him after the election? The reason can only be because someone is a selfish person who is only about himself alone.
“He (Dele Momodu) also claimed that Wike could have benefited from Atiku’s suggestion if he had not dissociated himself from the Southeast region, obviously forgetting that Wike is a proud Ikwerre man, unlike Dele Momodu who isn’t proud of his Edo origin,” Olayinka said.
Olayinka accused Dele Momodu of being motivated by financial gain, stating, “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.”
