The Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, Lere Olayinka, has fired back at Ovation publisher Dele Momodu.
Lere criticized Momodu over comments accusing Wike of pushing Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, out of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a strongly worded statement on Wednesday, Olayinka described Momodu as a “fairweather friend” whose loyalty to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is driven solely by financial gain.
“We are hearing all this noise from him because Atiku is paying his bills. Let Atiku stop paying, and Dele Momodu will move to the next victim,” he said.
Olayinka dismissed Momodu’s claim that Wike forced Obi out of the PDP as “baseless,” asserting that only someone who “knows nothing apart from his stomach” would make such an allegation.
He further accused Atiku of being a long-standing divisive figure in the PDP, claiming the former vice president has worked against the party’s interest since 2003.
“Atiku has been the weapon fashioned against the PDP since he frustrated the party’s efforts to win Lagos State in 2003,” Olayinka alleged.
The minister’s aide also questioned Atiku’s sincerity about supporting a South-East presidential candidate ahead of the 2023 general elections.
He pointed out that Atiku had already obtained the PDP’s presidential nomination form before the party’s zoning committee had concluded its recommendations.
Olayinka used the exit of prominent PDP figures—such as Senator Gbenga Daniel, Atiku’s 2019 campaign DG, and Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, his 2023 running mate—as further evidence of internal discontent with Atiku’s leadership.
“Was it Wike that made Gbenga Daniel leave the PDP two weeks after the 2019 election? Was it Wike that made Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa leave the party?” he asked.
He added that former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, who chaired Atiku’s 2023 campaign, and the current governor, Umo Eno, are also distancing themselves from Atiku and the PDP.
“Why is it that everyone who worked with Atiku in 2019 and 2023 is leaving him? The answer is simple—selfishness,” he stated.
Efforts to reach Dele Momodu and Atiku’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, for comment were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. Calls went unanswered and messages had not been returned.