Olusegun Ariyo
A journalist-cum politician, Dele Momodu, has explained why he fell out with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He said he was a close friend to Wike but their relationship became strained after he informed the former Rivers State governor of his intention to contest for president.
He explained that Wike, who was also secretly nursing his presidential ambition then, was angered by the information and stopped responding to every call put through to his phone.
Speaking in a recent episode of The Honest Bunch podcast, Momodu said, “I was very close to [Nyesom] Wike. We are no longer close. Troubles started the moment I declared interest in the presidential election.
“He had not told anybody he wanted to contest but I was suspecting because of the branding and how much he was spending on journalists. He had PR deals with many media houses.
“Those things are not cheap but he was getting good results; everybody was talking about him.
“So, I met him and informed him that I would be contesting for the presidency and I would need his support. And before then, I had consulted nationwide, I had met Emirs, the Sultan and everybody.
“The general impression I was getting was that if Wike wants to run, he would have problems, especially in the North. The Northerners would support anybody but not Wike.
“I tried to tell him that this is what I had picked up and in case you are unable to run, would you kindly support me? What’s the crime in that?
“I already considered you my friend. He stopped picking my calls, he told people even live on Channels, when an interviewer asked for his opinions on new entrants like Dele Momodu, he said, ‘Which Dele Momodu? Get serious!’
“I was shocked. Wike told me that he used to watch me and his boss, [Rotimi Ameachi, when we were flying helicopters, he would be down saying, ‘See these people, they’re enjoying o!,’ is now disrespecting me simply because he has now made money, power.”
