Abuja: Nigerian ambassador-designate, Femi Fani-Kayode, has publicly criticized Dele Momodu, an opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, urging him to cease his criticisms of President Bola Tinubu. Fani-Kayode contends that Tinubu has been a benefactor to Momodu for over forty years.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, expressed his views in a statement made in Abuja on Thursday. He was responding to Momodu’s recent criticisms of President Tinubu during a television interview and a statement in which he compared Tinubu’s governance style to the dictatorship of the late Gen. Sani Abacha, a former military Head of State.
Fani-Kayode labeled Momodu’s comments as ‘misguided, uncharitable, and a reflection of a worrisome level of cognitive dissonance.’ In a counterstatement, Momodu had described Fani-Kayode and fellow ambassador-designate, Reno Omokri, as ‘perpetual agents of perfidy and lacking in credibility.’
On Thursday, Fani-Kayode urged Momodu, a veteran journalist and media entrepreneur, to desist from further criticism of President Tinubu. He claimed that Momodu had been fed and accommodated by Tinubu for forty years. Fani-Kayode described Momodu’s rebuttal as ’emotional, unhinged, and devoid of logic,’ advising him to ‘stay in his lane’ and refrain from attacking the president.
Fani-Kayode emphasized that, unlike Momodu, he did not benefit from Tinubu over the years without supporting his presidential ambitions. He also warned Momodu, whom he still regards as a brother and friend, against misrepresenting facts or launching personal attacks against him, declaring that ‘the time for silence is now over, and the game is now on.’
Fani-Kayode further criticized Momodu’s political affiliations, claiming that the new alliances he supports lack credibility and are unprepared for the responsibilities of governance. He also affirmed his unwavering support for President Tinubu’s administration, citing the reform programs initiated since 2023 as crucial for Nigeria’s stability and prosperity.
In his closing remarks, Fani-Kayode underscored the importance of Tinubu’s continued leadership for Nigeria’s interests and dismissed opposition claims as misleading. He warned that he would no longer remain silent as Momodu and his associates continue to criticize the President.