Dele Momodu, former presidential aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has warned that Nigeria is sliding into what he described as a “civilian dictatorship”.
Momodu spoke on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, lamenting the erosion of democratic values ahead of Democracy Day.
His words: “I’m very happy that today coincides with the lead‑up to June 12 (Democracy Day), so that if we still have any iota of conscience left, we’ll realise we have damaged this democracy,” he said.
“The summary of it all is that on the eve of June 12, Nigeria is virtually back to civilian dictators who don’t care how you feel or what you think. Nigerians are hungry.
“We’ve damaged this democracy, and I hope we’ve not damaged it beyond repair because the audacity, the effrontery of this set of politicians—whether in the executive, legislature, or local government—is totally unbelievable.”
Momodu said those who fought and died for democracy during the June 12 struggle would be heartbroken if they could witness the current state of the nation.
“All those who suffered for this democracy—especially those who are now in heaven—if they can see us, they would be crying,” he said.
On internal PDP crises, Momodu accused Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory, of dictating party decisions.
His words: “It sounds ridiculous that one man, who should be busy in Abuja, is dictating where the PDP presidential ticket should go in 2027.
“Where was Wike during the June 12 struggle? Who knew him then? But today, he speaks as if he’s the founding father of Nigeria.”
He described the state of emergency in Rivers State as a crisis “orchestrated and aggravated by one man”.
“A major crisis of monumental dimension was orchestrated and aggravated by one man. Just because he wouldn’t go away quietly, a state of emergency had to be declared,” he noted.
Momodu said Wike is staging “a coup against the party that made him everything he is today”.
He also criticised President Bola Tinubu’s remarks calling concerned Nigerians “busybodies” during the commissioning of the renamed International Conference Centre.
“I listened to the President refer to concerned Nigerians as ‘busybodies’ and ‘bystanders.’ Who is a bystander in his own country? All because of one man—Wike,” he said.
Momodu warned that Nigeria risks sinking into autocracy unless political culture is reformed and democratic values restored.
“PDP is part of its own problem, no doubt. But people like Wike, doing what they do with impunity, are taking us dangerously backwards,” he said.