By Remi Johnson
The Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Lere Olayinka, has fired back at veteran journalist and Ovation publisher, Dele Momodu, over his recent remarks on national television questioning Nyesom Wike’s democratic credentials and role in the June 12 struggle.
In a strongly worded statement released Thursday, Olayinka accused Momodu of being obsessed with Wike, suggesting that the media mogul is in dire need of “urgent deliverance and rehabilitation” for what he described as a deteriorating mental state.
“The mental case of the self-appointed chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) appears to have graduated from psychology to psychosis, such that he now sees Wike in everything he does, even in his sleep,” Olayinka said.
He questioned Momodu’s credibility as a political voice within the PDP, pointing out that during the party’s 2022 presidential primary election, not a single delegate voted for him. “Was Wike responsible for that? Or why this fixation on anything Wike?” he asked.
Olayinka’s response follows Dele Momodu’s televised criticism of Wike, where the media entrepreneur challenged the former Rivers State governor’s democratic credentials, rhetorically asking, “Where was Wike during the June 12 struggle?”
In a rebuttal laced with sarcasm and historical references, Olayinka retorted, “Where was Dele Momodu too when Nigeria was being founded? Was he among the founding fathers of Nigeria to be living in the country?” He further argued that, by Momodu’s logic, only those who fought for Nigeria’s independence should have a say in its governance.
He also dismissed Momodu’s claims of involvement in the June 12 struggle, alleging that the publisher exploited the pro-democracy movement for personal gain. “He only used the June 12 struggle to japa. He didn’t struggle for anything other than his own well-being,” Olayinka said.
Olayinka concluded by asserting that Momodu has no place among those who genuinely fought for the actualization of June 12. “When the register of those who fought for the actualization of June 12 is being taken, people like Dele Momodu, who used it to hustle, should stop forcing their names into it.”
The exchange adds another layer to the deepening tensions within the PDP and reflects the ongoing struggle for influence and relevance among some of its high-profile figures.