Headline

Apologise to Nigerians, Presidential Aspirant, Dele Momodu Tells APC

Published

4 years ago

April 12, 2022

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

Frontline presidential aspirant under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Aare Dele Momodu, has advised the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to as a matter of urgency tender an unreserved apology to Nigerians for mismanaging the affairs of the country in the last seven years.

Dele Momodu made the remarks in a press statement he signed himself when he submitted his expression of interest and nomination forms at the PDP secretariat at Wadata House in Abuja while promising the hard working, visionary, brilliant, well-educated, ambitious, hardworking and upwardly mobile Nigerians that “a Dele Momodu Presidency will tap into their talents and resources to rebuild Nigeria and make our Nation a 21st century giant in the comity of nations.”

Expressing total disgust at the level of decay the country has sunk into since the present APC took the reigns of power, Dele Momodu said that “Nigeria is at crossroads and things can no longer continue as business as usual. No God-fearing citizen can excuse and readily dismiss the gross incompetence and ineptitude of a ruling government that was exceptionally high on promises but abysmally low on deliverables and performances.

“Nigeria deserves massive apologies from the APC apparatchiks who should be ashamed of the magnitude of damage they have wreaked on our long-suffering nation. No amount of fanciful diction, deceptive sophistry, pedantic casuistry or mendacious demagoguery can rescue them from the judgment of God for plunging our country and its people into unprecedented misery and penury.”

A veteran journalist, who has travelled the world, visiting not less than 60 countries across the continents, in the propagation of positive image for Nigeria, Momodu is entering the presidential with a clear mission of bringing to bear experiences acquired over the years to save Nigeria from “vestiges and bondage of insecurity, ignorance, corruption, division and disunity, backwardness, inequality, infrastructural decay, intolerance, vindictiveness, oppression, mass unemployment and the general malaise that has endlessly afflicted our great country.”

Known for his philanthropic gestures, which has affected Nigerians across the six geo-political zones, and across international borders, Dele Momodu’s networking habits and abilities are above board.

“I’m a natural unifier. I do not go to people because, and only when, I need their votes. I have done this all my life. It is natural to me and not a pretence. Through my work, I have been able to touch the lives of countless Nigerians at home and abroad. Directly and indirectly, I’ve provided jobs and created opportunities for thousands of Nigerian youths in practically all spheres of human endeavour,” Momodu said.

He submitted with a plea to the PDP hierarchy, members and super delegates to disregard the politics of the highest bidders and pecuniary interest in deciding who flies the flag of the party in 2023, noting that he was ready as the flagbearer to win the election for the party, and in the long run “offer our people a fresh beginning in a new world order propelled by education and knowledge.”

The statement in details…

Earlier today, I submitted my PDP Presidential nomination form at our Party headquarters in Abuja. I was happy to achieve yet another milestone after purchasing the N40 million Expression of Interest and Nomination forms. Whilst I query the wisdom in demanding such a huge sum from Presidential aspirants, which could easily discourage and eliminate younger and more vibrant aspirants, I decided to pay because it had been demanded by the Party and it was thus a necessary step in the right direction as I seek the requisite mandate of my Party in my mission, alongside other like minded Nigerians, to liberate our country, Nigeria, from the vestiges and bondage of insecurity, ignorance, corruption, division and disunity, backwardness, inequality, infrastructural decay, intolerance, vindictiveness, oppression, mass unemployment and the general malaise that has endlessly afflicted our great country.

Nigeria is blessed with some of the most brilliant, well-educated, ambitious, hardworking and upwardly mobile souls on planet Earth. Examples of our global excellence and exploits abound, and are well documented. However, the lack of visionary, selfless, frugal, disciplined, determined, knowledgeable purpose-driven leadership has slowed down the remarkable work of our phenomenal men and women. I take this opportunity to salute them, and to assure them that, wherever they may be, a Dele Momodu Presidency will tap into their talents and resources to rebuild Nigeria and make our Nation a 21st century giant in the comity of nations. These are not mere words or platitudes, but the conviction of a patriot who knows that a true visionary and missionary leader is one who identifies, harnesses and utilises the human and material resources at his disposal, not someone who has a Messianic complex.

The time has come when politics can no longer be the exclusive preserve of profligate politicians who are more interested in the actualisation of their inordinate ambition, egocentric power-grabbing, greedy venality and unwholesome scaremongering rather than the welfare and well-being of the people they are meant to serve.

In this quest, I have traversed every region and sub-region of Nigeria and, indeed, some parts of the Diaspora reaching out to my fellow citizens and re-establishing old alliances whilst reinforcing age-long friendships.

Everyone knows about my networking habits and abilities. I’m a natural unifier. I do not go to people because, and only when, I need their votes. I have done this all my life. It is natural to me and not a pretence. Through my work, I have been able to touch the lives of countless Nigerians at home and abroad. Directly and indirectly, I’ve provided jobs and created opportunities for thousands of Nigerian youths in practically all spheres of human endeavour. I was one of the first to recognise and champion the use of technology and social media in our every day life, even as our Government now seeks to stifle its majestic growth and power for their own selfish and nefarious reasons.

I have changed the negative perception of Africa as a dark continent and the campaign of calumny against Nigeria as a land of drug barons, scammers and never-do-wells. I have always displayed tolerance and respect for every tribe and religion. My Moslem and Christian backgrounds, as well as education in African Traditional Religions, make me even more comfortable with all men and women of faiths, and I’m dismissive of ethnic and religious jingoists.

Nigeria is at crossroads and things can no longer continue as business as usual. No God-fearing citizen can excuse and readily dismiss the gross incompetence and ineptitude of a ruling government that was exceptionally high on promises but abysmally low on deliverables and performances. Nigeria deserves massive apologies from the APC apparatchiks who should be ashamed of the magnitude of damage they have wreaked on our long-suffering nation. No amount of fanciful diction, deceptive sophistry, pedantic casuistry or mendacious demagoguery can rescue them from the judgment of God for plunging our country and its people into unprecedented misery and penury.

I’m working hard and praying that our esteemed Party, PDP, and its members, most especially our super delegates, would resist all temptations from highest bidders and put country above pecuniary expectations, and deem it fit to give me the ticket to represent our Party at the forthcoming 2023 General Elections. We must demonstrate to Nigerians, and the world at large, that we are ready to offer our people a fresh beginning in a new world order propelled by education and knowledge.

In this regard, I urge our Party’s political gladiators and juggernauts to stop flexing their muscles against one another and think not just about redeeming the lost glory of our illustrious Party, and country, but also give thought to providing succour and comfort to the teeming masses of Nigeria.

Becoming President of Nigeria should not be about the promotion and elevation of self as a result of previous lengthy political appointments. Getting to be Nigeria’s President should be a matter of offering oneself humbly and honorably in order to serve our Fatherland to the best of our abilities.

What Nigeria needs is a fresh leader, someone shorn of all the baggage, misadventure, mishaps and failures of the past. A charismatic leader and bridge builder, with global experience and exposure, capable of assembling and commanding a combined and novel team of technocrats and politicians whose sole desire is change their country for better, rather than for self-aggrandisement and pillaging. This is the kind of President that is required to lead our country out of the drudgery and doldrums. I believe that I am that person and Leader.

Our people truly have hope for a better future. They know that this will not come from a rehash or regurgitation of the same old wine in new bottles. They want real change. I have been a change agent most of my adult life. I believe that in the same vein, our reinvigorated Party should entrust in me the role of the change catalyst in Nigeria. I am new and untainted and primed for this task.

Together, our future is bright and assured.

CHIEF DELE MOMODU Presidential Aspirant, PDP

CHIEF DELE MOMODU, born May 16, 1960, in the ancient town of Ile-Ife, Nigeria, is an African Journalist of high repute and loud acclaim; he is a Publisher, polemicist, businessman, philanthropist, actor, politician and motivational speaker. He is the CEO and Publisher of Ovation International, a magazine that has given publicity to people from all over the world in over 60 countries and five continents. He is the Chairman of the Ovation Media Group, comprising of Ovation International magazine, Ovation Television and The Boss newspaper. His media empire has worked assiduously to change the negative perception of Africa as a dark continent. He is one of the most prolific essayists in Africa and he has authored and published several books in his name. He is one of the biggest voices on the African social media platforms and his Twitter account already has 1.7 million organic followers and growing. He is one of the most photographed celebrities in Africa. CHIEF MOMODU has met and interacted with world leaders. He has received over 200 award and honours, globally, and garnered recognition for his work in the world of Entrepreneurship, politics, literature, music and fashion in which he plays major roles. He has bagged two Doctorates (honoris causa) from the Houdegbe North American University in Cotonou, Benin Republic, and University of Professional Studies Accra, Ghana. He is a recipient of multiple traditional titles in South West and South East Nigeria and in the Republic of Liberia, where he is The Kiazolu of Grand Cape Mount County. He is a honorary Fellow of the African Public Relations Association (APRA).
Chief Momodu writes a weekly and very popular column, called Pendulum, on the back page of Thisday, Nigeria’s most influential newspaper, every Saturday. He has written on the many challenges facing Nigeria and has proffered practical solutions. He has landed in detention and forced into exile for his views and pro-democracy activities.

CHIEF MOMODU is a graduate of the great University of Ife, (now Obafemi Awolowo University , Ile-Ife). He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Yoruba language (1982) and a Master’s degree in English Literature, 1988, from the same University (the first Nigerian ever to attempt such a combination). He has been a political activist for decades and was forced into exile in Great Britain from 1995-98 under the military rule of General Sani Abacha.
Chief Momodu announced his intention to run for the Presidential election in his homeland Nigeria, in 2011, on the platform of National Conscience Party, but lost.

CHIEF Momodu was a Visiting Scholar at the African Studies Centre, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
Chief Momodu is married to one wife, MRS MOBOLAJI MOMODU, a Chartered Accountant and blessed with four children.

Headline

Tinubu, Victim of Historical Amnesia – Atiku

Published

1 hour ago

April 19, 2026

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

True to political permutations, the National Convention of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) amid Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) derecognition and leadership litigation, set a chain reaction in the political space, including a former Vice President and one of the leaders of the ADC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, berating President Bola Tinubu as lacking a good knowledge of history.

Against all odds, the party went ahead on April 14, to host a Convention, where over 3000 delegates attended, and where the leadership of Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Chairman and National Secretary respectively were ratified.

Since the April 14 event, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted in a manner political stakeholders and analysts categorized as panicky with statements from the presidency, and President Bola Tinubu himself. Though these responses were tagged correctional of ill-made utterances by ADC chieftains, observers have however said they portray comments by a team faced with an ultimately new challenge.

At the convention, the secretary of the ADC, Aregbesola, had dismissed Tinubu’s administration and his renewed hope policy as a scam. He lambasted the administration as a government of “scammers”, urging Nigerians to block it from retaining power in 2027.

“If allowed, this regime will continue to chant renewed hope till eternity. We have a duty to stop these scammers from retaining power,” Aregbesola said.

The former vice president followed up the convention statements, accusing Tinubu’s presidency of attempting to subvert democratic principles and silence opposition voices ahead of the 2027 elections, a position that further set the ruling party on edge, eliciting tons of reactions.

Beyond Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga’s criticism of Aregbesola for failing to reflect on his own record before attacking his “former boss and benefactor”, Tinubu himself made remarks against the person’s of the leaders of the ADC and their convention, calling it ‘street convention’.

“Unfortunately, Aregbesola did not undertake any honest self-reflection on his own record in public office — as governor or as Minister of Interior,” Onanuga stated in his statement.

He alleged that Aregbesola’s tenure as governor of Osun State was marked by hardship and poor economic management.

“His eight years as governor of Osun State were characterised by unmitigated hardship for the people. Under his half-baked socialist policies, civil servants went unpaid for months, and those who were paid received only a fraction of their salaries,” Onanuga said.

Tinubu, on his part, while hosting the Hope Renewal Ambassadors, took a swipe at some opposition figures, especially Atiku, ridiculing and questioning their records for criticising his administration, and saying that many of them have held strategic positions in the past without delivering lasting results.

He boldly retorted that “If you look at one of them, no one without history among them – no one without history. The head was the chairman of the privatisation council of Nigeria in this country one time.

“He privatised the steel industry in Delta. Is it working today? No. Is anything they privatised working today? They want to privatise another man’s political party. That one says no.”

Responding therefore, the former Vice President launched a fierce counterattack on Tinubu, accusing him of hypocrisy, historical distortion, and political desperation.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the President’s remarks as a “reckless tirade” that reflects “a troubling pattern of hypocrisy and historical amnesia.”

The statement began with “Atiku Abubakar’s attention has been drawn to the latest reckless tirade by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu—a performance that exposes not just desperation, but a troubling pattern of hypocrisy and historical amnesia.”

Atiku expressed surprise that a leader facing persistent scrutiny over his own credentials would attempt to discredit others with what he described as well-documented records of public service.

On the issue of privatisation, Atiku’s camp argued that Tinubu’s criticism does not stand up to scrutiny, noting that the President had previously opposed reforms he now appears to be implementing.

The statement maintained that Atiku had long advocated the privatisation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the sale of refineries to credible private investors—a position it claimed Tinubu resisted at the time.

It, however, alleged that the current administration is now overseeing a system that has effectively commercialised the national oil company “without transparency, clear valuation, or accountability.”

“This is not reform; it is privatisation without accountability,” the statement said.

Defending Atiku’s economic legacy, the statement cited several companies as examples of the success of the privatisation programme he supervised, including Oando Plc (formerly Unipetrol), Conoil Plc, African Petroleum (now Ardova Plc), Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals, Benue Cement Company, and Transcorp Hilton Abuja.

The statement also took a swipe at the President’s intellectual posture, suggesting that his comments reflect a failure to engage with documented history on Nigeria’s economic reforms.

“It is not our fault that the President does not and cannot read,” the statement said, while also referencing past controversies surrounding Tinubu’s academic records.

It added that Tinubu’s remarks could only have been made in disregard of publicly available records and credible accounts of the privatisation process.

“You cannot oppose reform when it demands courage and then execute a shadow version of it in power,” the statement added.

Atiku’s camp further criticised the tone of the President’s remarks, arguing that resorting to mockery reflects a deeper leadership concern.

“The President’s attempt to reduce a serious economic legacy to ridicule underscores a leadership more comfortable with insults than with facts,” it stated.

The statement also highlighted the current economic situation in the country, pointing to rising cost of living, inflation, and insecurity as evidence of policy failure.

“Across the country, families are skipping meals, businesses are shutting down, and citizens are struggling under the weight of inflation and declining purchasing power. What has been presented as reform has translated into hardship without relief,” it said.

The statement concluded by asserting that Atiku’s record remains “clear, documented, and defensible,” while noting that unresolved public concerns about the President’s background persist.

“A leader who has not fully addressed questions about his own background should exercise restraint before casting aspersions on others,” it added.

The statement ended with a cautionary note: “Nigerians are watching.”

While the ADC is fighting for their life, and an opportunity to feature on the ballot during the 2027 general elections, and APC solidifying their grip on the political space, the atmosphere still exudes evidence of palpable tension. The APC maintains that they are on homerun to victory, ADC counters that nothing will save the ruling party from being defeated in the coming elections.

But as it stands today, both parties are locked in battle of wits recreating the tension and bad blood that was the hallmark of the 2015, and to a large extent, the 2023 elections.

But on April 22, the Supreme Court will rule on the leadership of the ADC; this will set the motion to the credibility of the ADC to participate in the 2027 election.

But fears pervade the political terrain as Tinubu made veiled reference to the judiciary while mocking Atiku and other leaders of the ADC.

“We cannot submit to the disobedience of unlawful orders in court. We must embrace the judiciary, whether it favours us or it doesn’t, we submit to this principle of democracy, separation of powers and understanding of the dynamics of it and the nation that Nigeria is,” Tinubu had said, insinuating that the ADC had gone against the judiciary.

The coming week will determine in totality the direction the 2027 situation will take.

Headline

Supreme Court Fixes April 22 for Hearing in ADC Leadership Crisis

Published

5 days ago

April 14, 2026

Eric

The Supreme Court has scheduled hearing for April 22 in the appeal filed by the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, in relation to the leadership dispute in the party.

Mark’s appeal is against the March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which dismissed his appeal against the September 4, 2025 ruling by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja refusing to grant some injunctive reliefs contained in an ex-parte application filed by a chieftain of the party, Nafiu Bala Gombe.

A five-member panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Mohammed Garba chose the date on Tuesday after granting accelerated hearing in the appeal marked: SC/CV/180/2026.

The court ordered Mark’s lawyer, Jibril Okutepa (SAN) to file the appellant’s brief and serve on Wednesday.

It ordered the respondents to each file and serve on the appellant, a respondent’s brief within three days of being served with the appellant’s brief.

The appellant, according to the court, is to file a reply brief, if needs be, within one day of being served with the respondents’ briefs.

Headline

Amid Denials, ADC Reportedly Secures Rainbow Event Centre As Venue for National Convention

Published

6 days ago

April 13, 2026

Eric

Baring any last minute change, the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as National chairman and National Secretary respectively will hold the party’s National convention at the National Rainbow Event Centre in Garki on Tuesday, 14 April 2026.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has being denied two venues without any cogent reasons despite early arrangements, according to sources.

First, it was alleged that the Abuja Transcorp Hilton Hotels, which was initially approached, turned down the ADC request to use it’s facility.

The ADC, having sensed sabotage, has kept the Rainbow Event Center under rap as it’s definite venue.

The last National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party was held at the same venue.

Located adjacent the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters, the event centre will host the second NEC meeting of the ADC and it’s forthcoming national convention.

According to The Guardian’ report, the ADC leadership has communicated the venue to state chapters with the caveat not to escalate it.

The ADC is in a battle of survival against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and has approached the Supreme Court for intervention.

The INEC national chairman Prof Joash Amupitan has suspended recognition of the David Mark-led ADC rendering a leadership vacuum in the party.

INEC said it’s decision was on the basis of an Appeal Court pronouncement that ordered statusquo ante-bellum be maintained.

Reports say that why the venue is being quietly decorated moderately for the event, the ADC intends to fully move in the early hours of Tuesday.

The Guardian