Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to Germany and former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has criticised media entrepreneur and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain Dele Momodu over remarks comparing the administration of Bola Tinubu to the military regime of the late Sani Abacha.
In a statement posted on his X account on Monday, Fani-Kayode described Momodu’s comments as a sign of “a degenerating and worrisome level of cognitive dissonance,” adding that the veteran journalist appeared “drained, tired and broken” during the interview that sparked the controversy.
Momodu had made the remarks on Sunday while appearing on Channels Television, where he warned that Tinubu could become a dictator and claimed that some observers had already begun comparing the current administration unfavourably with Abacha’s government.
“From what happened since 1999 when he became governor to 2007 when he left as governor of Lagos State, and then hijacked Lagos, since then till today, it was very clear to me that I didn’t need a prophet to tell me that we are dealing with a potential dictator if given the presidential ticket,” Momodu said during the interview.
“Today, I don’t know how anybody would even describe this. Some people have even described this moment as being worse than that of Abacha government.”
Responding, Fani-Kayode said although he held personal affection and respect for Momodu, he found the comments disappointing and suggested the publisher should step back from political commentary.
“I love Dele and God knows I have immense respect for him but he sounded drained, tired and broken and spoke little sense yesterday in his interview with Seun Okinbaloye of Channels TV,” he wrote.
“May I humbly suggest to him to try and take a break from politics and political commentary for a while, get his breath back and attempt to overhaul his intellectual engine?”
The former minister further accused Momodu of being disrespectful not only to the president but also to the vice president, ministers, senators and newly appointed ambassadors, many of whom he said possess more governance experience than the ADC stalwart.
Fani-Kayode also launched a scathing critique of the ADC, describing the opposition party as ill-prepared for the realities of Nigerian politics.
“The ADC cannot even be described as a sinking ship but rather as a badly patched-up inflatable plastic life boat that has not even managed to find its bearing or leave the harbour. It has no engine, no sails, no oars, no captain, no crew, no navigational equipment, no muscle, no firepower, no war chest, no destination,” he said.
He went on to describe members of the party as “vacuous, shallow, intellectual frauds and political renegades who lack foresight and direction,” arguing that the migration of politicians to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was driven both by the performance of the president and vice president and by public perception of the ADC as “a collection of disingenuous, desperate and recycled political losers.”
Despite his sharp criticism, Fani-Kayode urged Momodu to leave the opposition party and join the APC, likening his current political association to “a gentle, beautiful, well-bred, well-fed and well-manicured flamingo trapped in a sea of ugly, cruel, loud, angry, starving, cackling and relentless crows and vultures.”
“I appeal to my brother Dele: leave the ranks of the forces of darkness and join us. You are far too good for the company you keep,” he concluded.
ELIJAH ADEYEMI
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