Nigerian ambassador-designate Femi Fani-Kayode has publicly urged prominent opposition figure Dele Momodu to cease his criticism of President Bola Tinubu, asserting that the president had been his personal benefactor for decades. The directive follows Momodu’s recent remarks comparing Tinubu’s governance style to the military dictatorship of the late General Sani Abacha.
Momodu, a chieftain of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) and a veteran journalist, made the comparison during a television interview on Channels Television and in a subsequent statement. In response, Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, initially described the comments as misguided and reflective of cognitive dissonance.
Momodu then dismissed Fani-Kayode’s criticism, alongside a similar critique from fellow ambassador-designate Reno Omokri, labeling both men as “perpetual agents of perfidy” lacking credibility. On Thursday, Fani-Kayode escalated his response, demanding Momodu “stay in his lane” and “back off” the president entirely. He stated that unlike Momodu, he did not rely on Tinubu for support over the past 40 years, nor did he claim a familial bond while opposing Tinubu’s presidential ambition.
Fani-Kayode emphasized his active and unwavering support for Tinubu’s 2023 campaign and the administration’s subsequent reform programmes, which he deemed essential for Nigeria’s national interest. He framed his loyalty as non-negotiable and warned that further misrepresentations or personal attacks from Momodu would no longer be tolerated, marking an end to his previous restraint due to their long acquaintance.
He also criticized the coalition of opposition parties Momodu engages with, dismissing them as ineffective “court jesters” and “insufferable jokers” unqualified for governance. Fani-Kayode argued that Nigeria’s stability depends on Tinubu continuing his reform agenda, a position based on permanent national interest rather than permanent political alliances.
Concluding, he refuted Momodu’s historical comparison, suggesting that if Tinubu were truly a dictator akin to Abacha, critics like Momodu would face severe repercussions. Fani-Kayode declared that the “game is now on” and he would no longer remain silent as Momodu and his associates “throw mud” at the president, foreshadowing continued political friction as the 2027 election cycle approaches.
