Dele Momodu, publisher of Ovation magazine and a former presidential aspirant, has alleged that Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), paid as much as $30,000 per delegate during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2022 presidential primaries.
Momodu, who contested the same primaries eventually won by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, made the claims on Monday while speaking on Channels TV.
According to him, a former Nigerian president had warned him (Momodu) against pursuing his presidential ambition, citing the enormous sums reportedly being offered to delegates by Wike.
“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 $30,000 per delegate; $30,000 multiplied by 774 delegates,” Momodu said.
He criticised Wike for allegedly manipulating the process instead of engaging in a fair contest.
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,” he added.
Momodu further expressed concern over what he described as Wike’s troubling transformation since assuming office as FCT minister, accusing him of arrogance and excesses linked to power.
“When a man who had been a nobody gets power, he begins to change slowly and steadily,” Momodu said.
“The oppressed man respects only one man: the oppressor. Wike used to respect only one man — Rotimi Amaechi.”
The media entrepreneur also 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,” he claimed. “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.”
Momodu appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reconsider his relationship with the FCT minister ahead of the 2027 elections.
“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 said.
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