By Eric Elezuo
A front line presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Aare Dele Momodu, has denied ever endorsing the aspirations of former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, saying that the APC leader’s media team has “been fumbling too much by being so cheap, unimaginative and jejune in their campaigns”.
Momodu, who said he respects Tinubu, wondered why and how the Tinubu team used an article he wrote two years ago as an endorsement, noting that “his handlers have no right to engage in pure mischief by abusing our relationship”.
Describing the action as ‘chicanery’, Momodu maintained that cogent reasons exists as to why he refused to join the APC. He said the reasons are tied to President Muhammadu Buhari’s “divisiveness and the culpable silence of TINUBU and the Vice President PROFESSOR YEMI OSINBAJO in condoning his excesses and keeping mute in the face of barefaced tyranny.”
He further attacked southern leaders clamouring to be president for remaining silent even as their people were maligned and oppressed, especially the South East.
See Momodu’s full text:
I’VE NOT ENDORSED TINUBU –
DELE MOMODU
In all honesty, I do not know who the media handlers of ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU are but I can reasonably confirm that they’ve been fumbling too much by being so cheap, unimaginative and jejune in their campaigns. Are they not ashamed that several people, including the respected DR AKINWUMI ADESINA of the African Development Bank, have publicly denied endorsing TINUBU for the 2023 Presidential election because of this unfortunate desperation to sell him as the only candidate of APC in 2023.
Now, I’m their latest victim. An article I wrote two years ago about TINUBU has suddenly become a fresh endorsement in 2022. What chicanery is this? While I have tremendous respect for ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU, his handlers have no right to engage in pure mischief by abusing our relationship. They’ve even made pamphlets of my article. But unknown to them, a lot of water has passed under the bridge since I wrote that article and I have my cogent reasons for not joining APC – PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI’s divisiveness and the culpable silence of TINUBU and the Vice President PROFESSOR YEMI OSINBAJO in condoning his excesses and keeping mute in the face of barefaced tyranny. Southern Leaders who crave to be President have failed to protect their own people from the blistering attacks they’ve endured under the Buhari government, most especially the people of the South East. The whole country is in turmoil and Northern Leaders have been more courageous in telling Buhari the blatant truth while ours have been so cowardly because of their insatiable propensity for power…
I have other reasons…
I earnestly ask the spin doctors to delete my name from their reckless and self seeking endorsements…
AARE DELE MOMODU
PDP PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANT
Recall that Dele Momodu, a former Presidential candidate and veteran journalist, declared his interest to vie for the presidency on Wednesday, January 13, 2022 shortly before submitting his letter of interest to PDP chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.
