Renowned publisher and former presidential aspirant, Dele Momodu, has raised serious concerns about what he describes as an emerging dual power structure in Nigeria, pointing to Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike's extraordinary influence within President Bola Tinubu's administration.
Speaking on Channels Television's The Morning Brief on Wednesday, Momodu did not mince words: "Right now, it's looking like we have two presidents in Nigeria. Wike can do anything. Even President Tinubu, who has controlled Lagos since 1999, was never this audacious."
Controversy Over Presidential Remarks
Momodu's comments came in response to President Tinubu's recent public praise of Wike during the commissioning of the newly refurbished International Conference Centre in Abuja, which has been renamed in Tinubu's honour. During the ceremony, the President urged Wike to ignore "busybodies and naysayers."
This choice of words particularly troubled Momodu, who stated: "I listened to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria calling fellow Nigerians 'busybodies.' You interpreted it as 'naysayers'—'naysayers' is still far better. Who is a bystander in his own country because of one man?"
Questions Over Project Priorities
The former presidential aspirant also questioned the scale and celebration surrounding the conference centre project, describing it as "a ₦30 billion launch" conducted with excessive fanfare.
"If you were in Wike's shoes, you would dance more than he danced yesterday. I saw the expressions on the faces of the audience—they looked befuddled, like, 'what is our country turning into?'" Momodu observed.
The renaming of the ICC facility has also sparked reactions from other public figures, with former Senator Shehu Sani reportedly noting that the facility was originally built during Ibrahim Babangida's administration.
Political observers note that this public criticism from Momodu, who has maintained a significant voice in Nigerian politics, highlights growing concerns about power dynamics within the current administration as it approaches its second year.
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