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By Myke Agunwa, Abuja
Publisher of Ovation magazine and former presidential candidate, Mr. Dele Momodu, has alleged that Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), paid $30,000 to each delegate during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primaries in 2022.
Momodu claimed that Wike benefited from his talents and that he branded and worked on his reputation before their relationship broke down irreparably.
Momodu and Wike were once friends, but their relationship turned sour when both men joined the race for the 2023 presidential race on the platform of PDP and lost to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Momodu said a former Nigerian president had warned him not to contest the primaries, citing the amount of money that Wike was offering delegates.
“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.
“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.”
Momodu described Wike’s transformation since becoming the FCT minister as troubling.
“When a man who had been a nobody gets power, he begins to change slowly and steadily,” he said.
He added that Wike, once respectful of Rotimi Amaechi, former minister of transportation, has changed drastically.
“The oppressed man respects only one man: the oppressor. Wike used to respect only one man—Rotimi Amaechi.”
He further alleged that Wike has developed a heavy drinking habit.
“Wike is consumed by the power he holds. The spirit of power and money is demonic when not managed properly,” Momodu said.
“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.
“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,” he added.
The relationship between Wike and Momodu has been marked recently by a mix of political camaraderie and public disagreements. Momodu’s critique of Wike’s disloyalty to the party and his alignment with the ruling APC had created a big gap and public altercation between the duo recently.
Dismissed Momodu’s criticisms as unfounded, Wike described Momodu as a “social media politician” who pitches tent on issues based on material gains.