Dele Momodu Rebukes Tinubu Allies Omokri, Fani-Kayode as ‘Perpetual Agents of Perfidy’
Dele Momodu, a chieftain of Nigeria’s opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), has issued a fierce rebuttal to critics Reno Omokri and Femi Fani-Kayode, accusing them of lacking credibility and engaging in hypocritical attacks. The response follows public criticisms from Omokri and Fani-Kayode regarding Momodu’s comments on President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement titled ‘Reno Omokri & Femi Fani-Kayode: A Tale of Two Shameless Friends,’ published on his social media platform X, Momodu explained that while he initially planned to ignore the remarks, he chose to respond to avoid being “bullied into silence and submission.” He asserted that both men “have no credibility whatsoever,” referencing their own past statements that were damaging to Tinubu but which, he claimed, they could never fully retract.
Momodu, the publisher of Ovation Magazine, directly dismissed allegations that he had made baseless accusations against the President. “I have never disparaged Tinubu in my life. I have never called him a murderer. I’m intelligent enough not to say what I have no proof of,” he stated. He clarified that his sole accusation against Tinubu is “dictatorship,” a stance he affirmed, linking it to Nigeria’s historical experience with military rule.
The ADC chieftain also revealed he had previously moderated his criticism of Tinubu out of respect for elder statesmen and past associations. Furthermore, he alleged that both Omokri and Fani-Kayode had, at different times, privately sought his support or reconciliation while continuing their public attacks. “How Femi and Reno can continue to harass people on behalf of a Tinubu they’ve permanently damaged baffles me,” Momodu added.
This public exchange highlights the intense personal and political factionalism within Nigeria’s contemporary discourse. Momodu, as a notable voice in the ADC—a party positioned in opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress—represents a critical perspective on the Tinubu administration. The allegations of private reconciliation attempts amid public hostilities underscore the complex interplay of personal relationships and political allegiances. The confrontation is likely to fuel further debate on the boundaries of political criticism and the credibility of partisan actors in Nigeria’s media landscape.
