Dele Momodu, wey be chieftain for African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former presidential aspirant, don talk say im go give President Bola Tinubu full support if di administration still dey follow di democratic principles wey dem fight for during military era. Momodu talk this one for interview on Arise TV on Thursday. Im say im main worry na di possibility say Nigeria go replace military dictatorship with wetin im call civilian dictatorship.
Momodu stress say im criticism of Tinubu na based on principle, no be personal hatred. Im say: “I go ordinarily swim to di depth of Atlantic Ocean for Tinubu if im dey practise wetin we fight against when we dey fight di military.” Im add say e go be hypocrite if after dem claim say dem change military dictatorship, dem go replace am with civilian dictatorship. “Dat na my only problem with am,” im talk.
Still, Momodu say im dey hold Tinubu for high regard. Im note say na di President help form im political development and teach am to challenge authority. Momodu talk say: “Everything else, when dem dey abuse am, you no go see me abusing am. I get tremendous regard for am, and im na one of dose wey train me and instil dis kind of discipline say you fit take on establishment and win.”
Im also credit Tinubu im political record for Lagos with helping am build reputation before im emerge for national stage. “Na dat record im carry from Lagos as local champion to national champion,” Momodu talk. Di relationship between di two men don last more dan three decades, from pro-democracy struggle of 1990s.
Tinubu, wey be senator then, involve for National Democratic Coalition, wey campaign for actualisation of June 12, 1993 presidential election mandate. Momodu work for campaign of late Chief MKO Abiola and later dem detain am for im pro-democracy activities. Both men later comot go exile after military crackdown under late General Sani Abacha.
Although dem political paths don diverge, with Momodu become vocal critic of Tinubu administration and dey align with opposition politics ahead of 2027 elections, im don maintain say im criticism no go erase role wey President play for im political formation.
