ABUJA — Nigeria’s ambassador-designate and former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has launched a sharp rebuttal against veteran journalist and opposition figure, Dele Momodu, over his public criticism of President Bola Tinubu, accusing him of ingratitude despite decades of personal support.
Fani-Kayode issued the statement on Thursday in Abuja following Momodu’s interview on Channels Television, in which the publisher likened Tinubu’s style of governance to the military dictatorship of former Head of State, Sani Abacha. Momodu also reiterated similar criticisms in a written statement, calling the president’s administration authoritarian and warning of democratic backsliding.
Describing the comments as “misguided, uncharitable, and a reflection of a worrisome level of cognitive dissonance,” Fani-Kayode said Momodu’s criticisms were both unfair and historically inaccurate.
He accused the media entrepreneur of failing to honour the decades of support and hospitality he received from Tinubu, claiming he had benefited materially and politically from the president’s largesse.
“Unlike Dele, I did not benefit from Tinubu for close to 40 years, eat from his plate, and collect handouts from him. I did not stay in his house, claim to be his brother, and yet refuse to support him in achieving his dream of becoming president,” Fani-Kayode said.
He described Momodu’s response to earlier criticism from him and fellow ambassador-designate, Reno Omokri, as “emotional, unhinged, and devoid of logic,” warning him to “stay in his lane” and desist from further personal attacks on the president.
Fani-Kayode also criticised Momodu’s political alliances, describing them as lacking credibility, cohesion, and capacity for serious governance.
He argued that opposition parties, and by extension Momodu, are currently unprepared to challenge the government or influence Nigeria’s political trajectory meaningfully.
“For Bobby Dee, the glory days are over, and I suspect that by 2027, when Tinubu emerges victorious, he will crawl back into the hole he originally came from,” Fani-Kayode said, reaffirming his own loyalty to the president.
He also highlighted his active role in Tinubu’s 2023 presidential campaign and his continued support for the administration’s reform programmes, which he described as crucial for national stability and prosperity.
“There are no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests. In my view, it is in Nigeria’s interest that Tinubu continues the reforms he initiated after assuming office in 2023,” he said.
Fani-Kayode further denounced Momodu’s comparison of Tinubu to Abacha, calling it historically inaccurate and misleading.
“If Tinubu were anything like the dictator, Dele claims, both Dele and those he speaks for would either be dead or in jail,” he added.
He concluded by warning that he would no longer tolerate misrepresentation, personal attacks, or attempts to mislead the public regarding the president.
“The time for silence is over. I have remained respectful out of longstanding acquaintance, but the game is now on. Momodu and his associates should think carefully before continuing to throw mud at the President,” Fani-Kayode said.
