Dele Momodu, a prominent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and publisher of Ovation Magazine, has called on President Bola Tinubu to refrain from promoting Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), citing concerns about his character and influence. The appeal came in response to Wike’s recent criticisms of Momodu during a Monday interview.

In a statement issued on Monday, Momodu urged Tinubu to prioritize national interest over any potential political gains from Wike in the 2027 elections. “No matter what you are expecting to gain from Wike in 2027, he is not the kind of character you should promote; he is not the kind of young man who should hijack our common patrimony,” Momodu said.

Momodu claimed that Wike’s behavior has been transformed by the power and privileges associated with public office. “When a man who had been a nobody gets power, he begins to change slowly and steadily,” he remarked, adding that wealth and influence in Nigeria can be “demonic” if mismanaged. He traced Wike’s transformation to his tenure as a local government chairman in Rivers State, alleging that his rise to power shifted his respect from former mentor Rotimi Amaechi, a longtime friend of Momodu’s, to self-interest.

Reflecting on their past relationship, Momodu revealed that he had worked closely with Wike in 2022 when the then-Rivers State governor invited him to cover state projects. Wike served as Rivers governor from May 2015 to May 2023 before his appointment as FCT minister in August 2023. Momodu claimed he played a significant role in shaping Wike’s public image, stating, “Wike benefited from my talents, and I worked on his reputation before our relationship broke down irreparably.”

The rift between Momodu and Wike deepened during the PDP’s 2023 presidential primary, where both competed for the party’s ticket but lost to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Their fallout has since fueled public exchanges, with Momodu’s latest remarks intensifying the ongoing feud.