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A Tribute to a ‘Movement’, Bashorun Dele Momodu at 65

Published

7 months ago

May 10, 2025

Eric

By Lanre Alfred

There are men who pass through life like a breeze — felt briefly, forgotten swiftly. And then, there is Bashorun Dele Momodu, whose presence crackles like thunder and his kindness runs as a river.

Clothed in a timeless ensemble of benevolence, patriotism, and service, Momodu towers like an iroko on the landscape of the Nigerian story – unmoved by storms, unmuzzled by fear, and unmatched in generosity. He is Bob Dee, the chronicler of kings and commoners alike, the man whose pen has lit up continents, and whose touch has lifted destinies.

He is not just a man. He is a movement.

At sixty-five, some men grow quiet with age, their voices dimming into the hush of retreat. But not Bob Dee. At sixty-five, he strides like a lion into his legacy — radiant, regal, and resoundingly relevant. He is the grand griot of our age, the man whose name has become synonymous with goodwill, whose shoulders lift others into prominence, whose words weave the fabric of both nation and narrative.

This is no ordinary man that I celebrate, and this is no ordinary age. Sixty-five is the crown of seasoned suns, a time when the journey behind is long enough to inspire awe and the path ahead is still kissed by purpose. Bashorun Dele Momodu has earned that crown many times over, in kindness and sacrifice. He is the pen’s patriarch and the people’s prince, and as Nigeria stands to toast his life, I rise — personally and profoundly — to pay homage to a man who has been more than a mentor to me. He has been a brother.

I have travelled with him and I have enjoyed his hospitality and bonhomie and benefitted immensely from his well of wisdom. When he gives, he spends himself with it, honestly

To recount my story with Bashorun Dele Momodu is to draw water from a reservoir that never runs dry; a well of kindness, humility, and astonishing generosity. As I prepared to host the South West Games 2025 — a vision carved from faith, sweat, and sleepless nights — Bob Dee was among the first to throw his weight behind me. He did not wait for the spotlight to shine; he arrived bearing torches.

With a heart bigger than the arena we built, he linked me up when the tournament needed friends in high places, he became the ladder. He personally led me and my team to His Excellency, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, not just making the introduction, but walking the walk beside me like a brother would. Not many men of his stature would make time, but Dele Momodu did without hesitation.

And despite a schedule tighter than a noose, he made himself available for the grand finale. There he was, in all his signature elegance, his presence anchoring the atmosphere like royalty. It was a picture of sweet delight to see Bob Dee receiving his honorary award with grace and handing out trophies like a proud father at a school graduation. It was not just his presence that elevated the event, it was his essence.

While many of his billionaire peers may conduct themselves with airs and aloofness, Bob Dee subsists as the outlier, ever reachable, ever reliable. I have known him in moments of urgency, in hours of need, and in the thick of doubt. And always, always, he is there, responding, encouraging, connecting, supporting. I am not the only one who has tasted this blessing. He has been this way to many, to multitudes.

Momodu’s life is an endless cascade of compassion, a man who gives as though his soul were stitched with surplus. To him, helping others is not a gesture; it is his reflex. He wears empathy like a second skin. He lifts without lording. He serves without seeking applause. He remembers names, dreams, and birthdays. He listens when others are too busy posturing. He affirms when the world chooses to ignore.

This is the enduring essence of Bashorun Dele Momodu. He doesn’t just support; he sustains. But to speak of Bob Dee and not speak of Ovation is to light a lamp and hide it beneath a bushel. The empire he built through that luminous magazine has become both mirror and megaphone for the African story. Ovation International has immortalised glamour, captured greatness, and chronicled history with a lens both intimate and grand. It is the continent’s coffee-table diary, our social scripture.

In the golden pages of Ovation lie the hopes, homes, and high points of African excellence. Yet, beyond the glamour lies grit, the audacity of a man who defied exile and silence, who turned rejection into revolution, who rose from the ashes of adversity to become the toast of presidents, queens, and commoners alike. From the palaces of Accra to the ballrooms of London, from the corridors of Aso Rock to the streets of Lagos, his camera has clicked with purpose, and his pen has poured with precision.

He is, without exaggeration, the most accomplished society journalist of his generation — perhaps any generation. But Dele Momodu is not just a chronicler of kings. He has, in his time, sought to be one, not for pomp but purpose. His foray into politics, most notably his presidential aspiration, wasn’t borne of ego but of empathy. He looked at Nigeria and wept with her. He looked at our broken systems and dared to dream differently.

His politics is the persuasion of the heart, not anchored in bitterness or tribal arithmetic, but in vision, values, and voice. A statesman in temperament, a patriot in calling, he is one of the very few public intellectuals who has successfully married media, morality, and nation-building.

Even when not on the ballot, his columns are campaigns for conscience. He speaks truth to power, yet never loses his dignity. He criticises with clarity but without cruelty. He belongs to the rare breed of men who can befriend kings yet kneel beside paupers with equal honour.

It is impossible to mention the name Dele Momodu without hearing echoes of gratitude from all corners. There are media entrepreneurs whose first bylines were blessed by his edits. There are photographers who bought their first cameras from his largesse. There are widows and orphans whose tears he dried silently, without a press release or a photo op.

To his friends, he is faithful. To his staff, he is fatherly. To his juniors, he is a bridge. To strangers, he is surprisingly accessible. He does not hoard his success; he scatters it like seeds. Indeed, I have watched him give — his time, his network, his counsel, his soul — until you wonder if he leaves anything for himself. And yet, each time he gives, he grows richer. Such is the mystery of magnanimity.

At sixty-five, what more can be said of such a man? Perhaps only this: that Nigeria must pause to honour him. Especially the Fourth Estate — the sacred tribe of truth-tellers and ink-stained prophets. For Dele Momodu has been one of our most luminous stars, our most honourable heralds.

He has fought to protect the dignity of the press even in his darkest days. He has modelled what it means to be fearless, yet not reckless. Bold, yet never brash. His name is a currency of credibility in a world increasingly bankrupt of integrity.

Let no headline forget him. Let no hall of fame omit him. Let every newsroom whisper his name in reverence. And let every young journalist know that it is possible to soar without selling out, to build without betraying, to write with both fire and feeling.

As I write this, I do not write as a detached observer. I write as one who has been a beneficiary of his grace, one among thousands. I write as one who has sat under his counsel, who has walked in the light of his mentorship, who has seen firsthand what it means to lead with love.

Bashorun Dele Momodu has lived a life far beyond mere existence; he has lifted others with every step, raising dreams, opening doors, and steadying trembling hands often with quiet grace. His success has never been a solitary triumph, it has always been shared and offered freely, like sunlight spilling over a darkened path.

Some men walk through life, leaving footprints that fade in the wind. But a rare few blaze across the sky like constellations, their brilliance undimmed by time, their presence a guiding light for generations. Momodu is one such luminary, a man whose every step has carved pathways for others to follow. At 65, he stands tall in years and towers in spirit. Time has not dimmed his shine; it has only enriched its glow, adding depth to his compassion and strength to his convictions.

So today, I do not just honour a man; I celebrate a movement. A living symbol of generosity. A sage who speaks with both pen and presence. A sentinel of truth, standing watch over decency in an often cruel world.

Happy birthday, Bob Dee.

May your days be long, your joy unshaken, and your tribe forever flourish.

Featured

Atiku Abubakar Remains Only Person Tinubu Govt is Afraid Of – Dele Momodu (Full Interview)

Published

2 days ago

December 4, 2025

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

If there is one Nigerian, who can tell accurately the heartbeat of the nation, its direction and what the future portends for it, based on the dynamics already at play, that person is Chief Dele Momodu; a seasoned journalist, former presidential candidate, holder of high profile chieftancy titles across the country, and Chief Executive Officer, Ovation Media Group.

As a vocal politician and public speaker, whose voice echoes across the length and breadth of the nation for all the good reasons, Momodu has continued to speak against the cluelessness of the present government and the need for the government to redress its steps in terms of unpopular policies emanating from the cradle, which have rather impoverished the populace rather than do the opposite. He is credited with being the first to notice the government’s unpopular drift towards one-party system, and warned on the dangers. Today, almost all the state governors, national and state assembly members have all decamped to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Sustaining his credence as a value-adding speaker, Momodu was a guest of the fabulous, experience and adequately exposed Charles Aniagolu of Arise News(Night), where he further highlighted the challenges and remedies of the Nigerian situation.

He also spoke on the appointment of the former Chief of Defence Staff, General Chris Musa (retd) as the Minister of Defence, the withdrawal of Police eacort from very important personalities (VIPs) including the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and many other issues of national concern.

The text of the interview is presented in details even to the tiniest details below:

Momodu with former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar

Well, for more on this, I’m joined now from our studios in Lagos by the former presidential candidate and publisher of Ovation magazine, Basharu Dele Momodu. Mr. Momodu, thank you very much indeed for coming in. You look like you’re about to cry there. I mean, I know you had a bit of a tough time getting in, and I do apologize to our viewers because we’re quite a few minutes late. But you had a bit of a mishap coming in, and that delayed us a bit.

Dele Momodu: Yes. Well, we thank God that it was something minor. We had an accident on top of the bridge coming into the Arise studios, but we’re okay. Now, you asked if I am off the mark this…

Well, I’m going to get to that in a minute. Sorry to interrupt you – I want to be a bit systematic because we’ve got to gallop ahead, given that we’re, I mean, almost 12 minutes late in starting the program. Let me start by first of all getting your reaction to the confirmation of General Christopher Musa as the new Minister of Defence in the current climate of insecurity that’s gripping this country.

Dele Momodu: Well, I mean, I didn’t expect anything else. I expected that he would be screened — whether bow-and-go or not — he would be screened, and he would be ratified. And he’s been ratified, and I want to congratulate him. That’s all. I pray that we won’t hear sermons this time and that he will just go straight into action.

Yes, we all hope for that, don’t we? And we also got the news this evening that the National Economic Council has approved 100 billion naira for the renovation of training centres for the police and other security agencies across Nigeria. So that suggests that they’re serious about retraining serving police officers and training new ones. Is that the message that you’re getting from it?

Dele Momodu: Well, I would say that 100 billion is too small for the police and the security agencies. The government should do something better if it is serious about the insecurity that is terrorizing everybody in Nigeria. They would need to get serious, invest more in training, involve- I mean, invest in new personnel. The reasons they are saying they are withdrawing police from the streets are just because we don’t have enough of them. But we have enough jobless people in Nigeria, including graduates and non-graduates, who are willing to join the police force and other security agencies. So my advice is that President Tinubu should invest heavily in security. 100 billion to me, especially when you translate it into other currencies, it’s chicken feed.

Well, to be entirely fair, Bashorun, that 100 billion is for the renovation of training centers for the police. It’s not for the whole security recruitment thing. It’s purely to renovate the centres that have been left to kind of, you know, rot across the country, and he’s trying to bring them up to speed and at the same time get on with the recruitment of new police officers and move on with the training of existing ones.

Now, you spoke recently about the ban on police escorts for VIPs. You called it a targeted move against opposition figures like Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who you support, and who is constitutionally entitled to security protection. You argued that the ban is a calculated move to weaken opposition voices and fuel resentment against successful Nigerians, and that it’ll expose prominent Nigerians to danger. I wonder why you think all that, because public sentiment in Nigeria seems to be in support of President Tinubu’s decision to ban the use of police escorts by VIPs. And it looks like you are the one who is off the mark this time.

Dele Momodu: No, I’m not off the mark. I remember in October 2022, when I foretold the dictatorship that would soon visit Nigeria. I was abused that night — that I’m talking rubbish. You see, I am trained to go behind the scene to find the real stories. A lot of Nigerians get easily, easily fooled. And if you read my press release yesterday, I said it there that we have been fooled again. What they are doing is to set the poor against the rich. And whenever you do that, you will get an applause, you will get an ovation. But the truth is that most people are not thinking about the real motive behind this decision.

If you look at Lagos State, for example, when they had the problem in the House of Assembly, you will see that one of the things they used to intimidate the people was, one, they sent some forces in to disrupt the house. Then they withdrew the police security that was guarding the brother of the new speaker. They withdrew the police from Oba Elegushi. It’s nothing new. So if we start the campaign, let’s say in January — I don’t know when we are starting — tell me, who will risk his life criss-crossing Nigeria without police escort?

We should stop being fooled. You see, the sentiment is that, oh yes, all of us should suffer. There is no country in the world where you don’t have VIPs. And it’s never a crime to be successful. As a matter of fact, those who should lose their security are those politicians in Abuja and not the ordinary man, not a Dangote, not an Abdulsamad. Imagine a time when a kidnapper said he almost got Aliko, if not for his heavy security.

So you will see – I’ve said it again today – when tomorrow comes, and events begin to unfold, you will remember that only one man warned you that this is part of the plot to suffocate the opposition.

Well, I mean, I think that obviously you’re entitled to your opinion, but a lot of people will probably disagree with that because the government didn’t say that they were going to completely leave VIPs naked without protection. They talked about redrafting civil defense people to become protectors. And members of civil defense — they carry guns and very sophisticated weapons at that. And of course, it’s not just directed at the opposition; members of the government and the VIPs are also subject to the same restrictions.

But let’s move on from there because I’m concerned that we lost a lot of time at the beginning. I want to get your response to a lot of things because it’s not every day that we have you sitting there. I don’t know whether you’ve heard this, but it’s being reported tonight that the US government has introduced a new policy which allows it to impose a visa ban on people considered responsible for the attack on Nigerian Christians.

The State Department issued a statement saying the policy allows it to deny visas to those who have directed, authorized, supported, participated in, or carried out abuses targeting people based on faith. And it said that family members of affected people are also subject to the restrictions, and that the US cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria. What’s your reaction to that? Does it sound like all the attempts by the Nigerian government to convince the Americans that there isn’t genocide targeted specifically at Christians have failed?

Dele Momodu: You see, when you have bullies in power, people will also jubilate when a bigger bully comes to bully them. So what’s happening in Nigeria right now is that a lot of people feel hopeless. They feel helpless, and they are excited that there is a bigger bully. The same way you said, “Oh, people are happy that they are withdrawing security from…” is the same way America is bullying us now, and you can see us reacting.

It took us over two years to react, to what? To appoint ambassadors who will represent our country. So I think the game continues, and I can tell you that a lot of Nigerians, especially on social media, are very excited that for once, at least, our leadership is listening to someone, and that’s President Donald Trump. So if that’s what it takes for our country to get serious, maybe that’s what we needed, and that’s what we are getting.

And Mr. Momodu, as you assess the political landscape inside Nigeria using your very blunt and unapologetic assessment indicators, what do you see as we approach 2027? Is it, as some have suggested, a done deal for President Tinubu and the APC, given the many failures of the opposition? Because I see you being quoted as saying that no southern candidate — not even Goodluck Jonathan or Peter Obi — can defeat President Tinubu in 2027.

Dele Momodu: Oh, I’ve been saying that for long. It’s nothing new. nothing is a done deal for President Tinubu. About two months ago, no one expected him to suddenly sit up and respond to America. But now we are responding. So we don’t know what’s going to happen in the coming weeks that may further get them sober.

What we witnessed in the past was the giddiness — “Oh, we are the ones in charge, nothing can happen.” But suddenly we see them reacting to forces from America, which is unfortunate because to govern Nigeria is not too difficult. Nigerians — we’re the most tolerant human beings; otherwise, we wouldn’t be where we are now. We tolerate everything.

And I know that 2027 is not yet a done deal. But the opposition must get its act together. I’ve said it before on this programme that actions and reactions are always equal and opposite, according to Isaac Newton. So that’s my scientific analysis of what is going to happen.

Any southerner who goes into the race now – an average southerner will say, “After all, we already have Tinubu there, so why are we worrying ourselves?” So, the force that we need to energize the opposition, I believe it will not be there. There are three key things when it comes to presidential elections. Number one is ethnicity — where the candidate comes from. No northerner is going to come and die to come and defend a southern candidate if, let’s say, for example, he’s rigged out of the election. But when you have your own candidate, it’s more than likely that you will be more enthused to vote for that candidate.

And that is why I said, look, don’t let us waste our time. And I’ve said it — you know me, I’ve said it — I said the only person this government is afraid of is Atiku Abubakar. I will continue to say it. And since Atiku and Peter Obi ran together in 2019, I supported them then, and I was not a member of PDP. So it should be easier for them to come back together.

We have less than one year to prepare for that election. While Tinubu is already campaigning, cajoling, and, you know, coercing whoever he can, we are still busy thinking who is going to be our candidate. I think we are wasting too much time. Now is the time to do what is necessary.

And just following up on that, you recently described Peter Obi’s candidacy as independent because, according to you, he doesn’t have a party and has shown unwillingness to build and work with the ADC. But I mean, many of his supporters disagree with you and say that he is still a member of the Labour Party for now, and that the party has been making behind-the-scenes moves towards reconciliation and could well pull a rabbit out of a hat in 2027. What’s your assessment of that?

Dele Momodu: Now you have gone in the realm of magic. I am not a magician and I don’t see any magic that would awaken Labour Party or PDP and that APC will fold its arms and allow such a platform for Obi. I mean, the truth of the matter is that, you know, he’s a man I respect so much. If you look at it right now, I believe he’s party-less, like most of our opposition leaders.

He has not yet made up his mind, and he joined the ADC last week. So anybody who wants to run a year to election and you have not yet made up your mind, I think it’s proving more difficult. that’s why I said an independent candidate. But he has not said that he’s opposed to ADC, so we need to correct that. He has not said that he’s opposed. What I think he’s opposed to is maybe having to go through a convention — a primary — and ADC said everybody should come to the primary: if you win, you win, then others will support.

But I think it’s going to be difficult for any party to donate a ticket — especially any formidable party — at this stage, to donate a ticket to any candidate. I don’t even think Atiku can get an automatic ticket in ADC; he will have to fight for it. So let them — I mean, you have Roti… one of the most experienced politicians in the history of Nigeria. So they are all there; let them go and fight for it. And that is what a true democrat should do.

The only person who will get an automatic ticket, and already has, is President Tinubu. So for anybody to be shopping for a ticket at this stage, I think we need to get very serious. I’m being brutally frank.

Indeed, and that’s what we like about you – your brutal frankness. And in that regard, let’s talk a little bit about you as a prominent media personality. I mean, do you see your role as a commentator as influencing government policy or shaping public opinion?

Dele Momodu: Well, for me, I am like a prophet. I was born in an Aladura church, and I was named Joseph. I dream a lot. I see visions. And most of my predictions about Nigeria have come to pass, even after people have abused me.

They used to tell me, “Oh, you like supporting losers.” But now they can see that I support common sense. It does not matter whether you are going to win or you are not going to win. That’s the role God has chosen for me, and I have gladly accepted it.
So those who want quick fixes or quick, you know, appointments, of course, would always join the ruling party. When I supported Buhari the other time, I never went there to do anything. They invited me; I told them my piece of mind. So it tells you that I’m not desperate for anything.
For me as a person, I will continue to influence the younger ones. Everywhere I go – and I travel virtually every week – the young people come to me, even on flights, and say, “Thank you for speaking up.” A lot of people don’t speak up. That is why we believe Nigeria is populated by bad people. There are a lot of good people who are voiceless. And so they are looking for someone to just tell them where to go.
And I am happy that most things that I have said have come. I predicted that there would be a dictatorship, and that one didn’t take much. So as a prophet, I’m enjoying it.

Well, we like having you, and thank you very much indeed for taking the time to talk to us. And thank you for being there tonight. And also, I hope everything goes well because I know you had a bit of a mishap getting into the studio.
Dele Momodu — Basharun Dele Momodu — is a former presidential candidate and publisher of Ovation magazine. He was talking to me from our studios in Lagos.

Featured

Davido Hails Uncle, Gov Adeleke on Resignation from PDP

Published

4 days ago

December 3, 2025

Eric

Nigerian Afrobeat music singer, David Adeleke aka Davido, has commented on his uncle, Governor Ademola Adeleke, after he resigned from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), posting “Jeje…” on his X page.

Adeleke, who represented Osun West as Senator and currently serves as the governor of the State, announced his resignation in a letter dated November 4, 2025, citing the party’s national leadership crisis.

The letter titled ‘Resignation of my membership of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP)’ read: “Due to the current crisis of the national leadership of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), I hereby resign my Membership of the Peoples’ Democratic Party with immediate effect.”

He expressed gratitude for the opportunities afforded to him by the PDP.

“I thank the Peoples’ Democratic Party for the opportunities given to me for my elections as a Senator (Represented Osun West) and as Governor of Osun State under the Peoples’ Democratic Party,” he added.

The resignation has sparked reactions, with Davido’s post sparking speculation about the implications for the party.

Featured

Book of Infamy: Umo Eno, Umar Bago, Egbetokun Listed Among Media Unfriendly Public Officers

Published

4 days ago

December 2, 2025

Eric

Niger and Akwa Ibom state governors, Umar Bago and Umo Eno respectively, have been listed in the “Book of Infamy” by the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria as the worst offenders of media repression in the country.

The IPI also included the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, in the blacklist for continued police harassment and attacks on journalists.

This was made known on Tuesday during the IPI Annual Conference in Abuja, with Vice President Kashim Shettima and Minister of Information and National Orientation, in attendance.

At the conference, IPI President Musikilu Mojeed said the governors and the police chief have consistently prevented journalists from performing their legitimate responsibilities.

He said, “Mohammed Umar Bago, Niger Governor, Umo Eno, Governor of Akwa Ibom and the IG of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, are hereby written in the book of infamy.”

Mojeed added that Egbetokun was added for “failing to uphold his constitutional duties and allowing systematic media oppression”.

In recent years, media reports have highlighted multiple instances of repression under the two governors.

In August 2025, Governor Umar Bago was reported to have ordered the closure of Badeggi FM, a privately owned radio station in Minna, Niger State, accusing it of inciting violence.

The station was sealed by security agents, prompting condemnation from rights organisations such as Amnesty International and the Nigerian Bar Association, which described the move as unlawful and an attack on independent journalism.

Earlier in 2025, a postgraduate student at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Isah Mokwa was reportedly arrested and detained after criticising Governor Bago on social media.

In Akwa Ibom State, under Governor Umo Eno, a Channels Television reporter and cameraman were expelled from the Government House Press Centre in May 2025 after airing a video in which the governor allegedly announced plans to defect from his political party.