“Now We Know Wike Has a Boss”: Dele Momodu Applauds Tinubu for Halting Abuja Property Seizures
In a political twist that has sparked national conversations, veteran journalist and PDP chieftain, Dele Momodu, has publicly applauded President Bola Tinubu for reigning in the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike an intervention many see as a timely check on what critics have called Wike’s “unchecked excesses.”
The controversy erupted on Monday, May 26, after the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA), under Wike’s leadership, sealed several prominent properties in Abuja. Among the affected were banks, fuel stations, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and notably, the PDP National Secretariat a move many saw as politically charged.
Wike justified the clampdown as enforcement against unpaid ground rents, which reportedly run into billions of Naira. But the backlash was swift. Critics across the board questioned the timing, scope, and motives—suggesting it was less about policy and more about politics.
In what appeared to be a firm exercise of presidential authority, President Tinubu ordered a temporary suspension of the operation and granted all defaulters a 14-day grace period to pay up.
Momodu to Tinubu: “You Just Sent a Powerful Message”
Reacting from the United States, Dele Momodu took to Instagram with a post that quickly went viral. In it, he commended Tinubu for stepping in, describing the move as a defining moment of leadership and a public reminder that Wike, the so-called ‘co-president,’ is not above checks and balances.
“THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TINUBU… I have just read the news here in America that you have stepped into the matter of your cantankerous Minister of FCT, MR NYESOM WIKE… The decision to stop Wike today achieved several points in your favour.”
Momodu didn’t mince words. He accused Wike of behaving like a “law unto himself,” wielding ministerial power not with prudence but with the swagger of a man unbothered by presidential oversight.
He further criticized the FCT Minister for “vindictive governance,” arguing that sealing the PDP Secretariat the largest opposition party only fueled speculation of political suppression.
“One Ship, One Captain”
In a biting metaphor, Momodu declared:
“There can’t be two captains in one ship. I hope WIKE got that message loud and clear.”
This is not the first time Momodu has voiced concern over Wike’s larger-than-life role in Nigerian politics. He lamented what he described as the FCT Minister’s disruptive meddling in Rivers State, where Wike remains embroiled in a drawn-out political feud with Governor Sim Fubara.
“We used to think Nigeria had two presidents TINUBU and WIKE,” Momodu quipped. “Now, we know WIKE has a boss.”
He urged President Tinubu to extend the same level of decisive leadership to Rivers State, accusing Wike of destabilizing governance and threatening the peace of the region with “emergency rule antics.”
“WIKE Is Not Running a Parallel Government”
Momodu’s critique didn’t stop at politics. He contrasted Wike’s bombastic style with what he called the “humility and competence” of other ministers, notably Dave Umahi, Minister of Works.
“WIKE’s assignments are far smaller than those of Dave Umahi, yet he carries on as if he’s running a parallel government… subjecting Nigerians to endless press conferences full of tautologies.”
In his closing, Momodu delivered a rallying cry on behalf of Nigerians:
“Nigerians are going through too much already. They don’t need Wike’s drama on top of economic pain.”
A Public Dressing-Down with Political Implications
While Tinubu’s intervention was framed as administrative, its political implications are enormous. In one swift move, the president not only soothed public anger but also subtly clipped the wings of one of the most polarizing figures in his administration.
As the dust settles, one question remains: Is this a turning point in Tinubu’s relationship with Wike or just another political performance in the drama that is Nigerian politics?
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“Now We Know Wike Has a Boss”: Dele Momodu Applauds Tinubu for Halting Abuja Property Seizures