ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Former presidential aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dele Momodu, has cautioned President Bola Tinubu against placing trust in defecting politicians.
He urged him instead to uphold democratic values and ensure political freedom thrives in Nigeria.
Speaking on Wednesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Momodu addressed the recent wave of defections from the PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), with particular focus on developments in Delta State.
The statement followed the defection of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, his deputy Monday Onyeme, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, commissioners, and key PDP stakeholders to the APC.
Commenting on these moves, the 64-year-old media mogul said, “I’m not surprised about it it’s been under serious harassment in recent times; it’s nothing new. What would surprise me is if President Bola Tinubu truly believes people are joining the APC because they love him or because he is doing fantastically well.”
In a direct appeal to President Tinubu, Momodu said, “My advice to Asiwaju is that he should not trust these politicians. Right now, everyone can see that he is determined to get a second term. God gave him the first term, not through coercion. I don’t know why he now believes he must secure a second term through it.”
Emphasizing the importance of democratic principles, he added, “My advice to him is simple: uphold our democratic tenets. Do not turn Nigeria into a democratic dictatorship.
READ ALSO: Dele Momodu To Tinubu: ‘Don’t Kill Democracy In Nigeria
“No matter what happens, you were a pro-democracy man before becoming president. Please, allow democracy to breathe in Nigeria. If you don’t, I can bet my life that later in life it will be deeply regrettable.”
Momodu attributed the current wave of defections to political survival rather than genuine ideological alignment.
“What people are doing now is a game of survival. Gone are the days when we used to boast that going to prison made one a martyr. We once admired the likes of Nelson Mandela, MKO Abiola, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, for enduring detention in the name of principle. These days, nobody wants to go to detention,” he stated.
He also claimed that many politicians have been targets of intimidation or scrutiny by anti-corruption agencies.
“Everybody wants to stay at home and talk about the money they’ve made from politics. Name one politician who has not been harassed by either the EFCC or the ICPC at some point,” he said.
Momodu went on to describe the current administration’s tactics as coercive.
“For me, it’s clear that this government’s strategy is: ‘if we can’t persuade you, we’ll force you’. And for now, that force appears to be working. But politics can change in 24 hours,” he warned.
His remarks come amid rising political tensions and a reshaping of the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections, driven by high-profile defections.
This isn’t the first time Momodu has been openly critical of Tinubu’s leadership style, particularly regarding democratic values and political liberty.
In a prior appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on March 31, Momodu condemned the president’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling it “anti-democratic.” The move included the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months.
“I’m pleading with President Bola Tinubu—please don’t kill democracy in Nigeria. You can fail in the economy, and people might forgive you. But if you fail in democracy, history will not be kind,” Momodu warned.
“He fought for this democracy in exile; it would be a tragedy if he becomes the one to suffocate it,” he added.
Momodu also cautioned that the president is being misled by close political allies and stressed that real leadership lies in service, not intimidation.