Nyesom Wike’s spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, has launched a scathing attack on Ovation Magazine publisher Dele Momodu, accusing him of supporting former Vice President Atiku Abubakar solely for financial gain. Olayinka described Momodu as a “fairweather friend” who lacks loyalty and would quickly abandon Atiku if the financial benefits ceased. This rebuttal follows Momodu’s claim that Wike was behind Peter Obi’s exit from the PDP—a statement Olayinka dismissed as baseless and ignorant.
Olayinka further alleged that Atiku has long been a divisive figure within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing him of sabotaging the party’s efforts since 2003, including frustrating its bid to win Lagos State. He challenged Atiku’s sincerity regarding support for a South-East presidential candidate in 2023, citing Atiku’s early declaration of interest before zoning decisions were finalized. According to Olayinka, this undermines claims of fairness and inclusivity within the party.
In strengthening his argument, Olayinka pointed to the departure of several key PDP figures who had worked with Atiku in past elections, including Senator Gbenga Daniel, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Udom Emmanuel, and Governor Umo Eno. He questioned whether Wike was responsible for these exits, implying that Atiku’s self-centered leadership is the root cause of internal discontent. Attempts to get comments from Atiku and Momodu were unsuccessful as of press time.
