Dele Momodu, the publisher of Ovation magazine and a former presidential aspirant, has claimed that Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory, offered $30,000 per delegate during the Peoples Democratic Party 2022 presidential primaries.
Both Momodu and Wike participated in the 2022 PDP primaries, which saw former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar emerge as the party’s candidate.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Momodu said a former Nigerian president had advised him not to take part in the primaries due to the large sums Wike was offering to delegates.
“A former president of Nigeria sent someone to tell me not to waste my money on the PDP 2022 primaries because Wike had raised the stakes to $30k per delegate; $30k multiplied by 774 delegates,” he said.
“What I expected of him was that if you weren’t going to support a man, if you’re going to run, run a fair race, and let’s leave it there.”
Momodu described Wike’s behaviour since becoming FCT minister as alarming.
“When a man who had been a nobody gets power, he begins to change slowly and steadily,” he said.
He also noted that Wike, who used to show respect to Rotimi Amaechi, the former minister of transportation, has changed significantly.
“The oppressed man respects only one man: the oppressor. Wike used to respect only one man—Rotimi Amaechi.”
The Ovation publisher further alleged that Wike has developed a serious drinking problem.
“Wike is consumed by the power he holds. The spirit of power and money is demonic when not managed properly,” Momodu said.
“He drinks early in the morning. He introduced me to Akeshi, a strong alcohol, saying it helps him function. This is someone in public office.
“My appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is that no matter what you are expecting to gain from Wike in 2027, Wike is not the kind of character you should promote; he is not the kind of young man who should hijack our common patrimony,” he added.