Dele Momodu, a senior member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for stopping the sealing of several properties in Abuja over unpaid ground rent. The action, originally carried out by the Federal Capital Territory Authority under Minister Nyesom Wike, sparked widespread criticism before the President ordered a pause.
On Monday, May 26, the FCTA, led by Wike, shut down a number of key business properties in the capital city. These included banks, fuel stations, offices of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, and most notably, the national secretariat of the PDP. The sealing was reportedly due to large amounts of unpaid ground rent, estimated in the billions of Naira.
However, after a wave of backlash from business owners, political observers, and the general public, President Tinubu intervened. He called for a temporary stop to the operation and provided a 14-day grace period for defaulters to clear their debts.
Reacting to the development, Momodu took to his Instagram page and wrote, “THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TINUBU, Your Excellency, good evening, sir. I have just read the news here in America that you have stepped into the matter of your cantankerous Minister of FCT, MR NYESOM WIKE who sealed the National Secretariat of the PDP, the biggest rival of your ruling party, APC, and properties of other defaulters in Abuja earlier today.”
Momodu noted that while it is necessary for people and businesses to fulfill their financial obligations to the government, actions taken by public officials must not appear personal or politically motivated. He described Wike’s approach as aggressive and warned that it could create unnecessary tension.
He further added, “We used to think we have two presidents in Nigeria, TINUBU and WIKE. Now, we know WIKE has a boss who can checkmate his excesses.”
In addition to thanking Tinubu for the intervention, Momodu also urged the President to pay attention to the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State. Wike, the former governor of the state, has been involved in a long-running power struggle with his successor, Governor Sim Fubara.
“How I wished you had stopped his reckless disruption and distraction of the SIM FUBARA government in Rivers State and saved the hapless people from this unfortunate contraption called emergency rule,” Momodu wrote.
He also compared Wike to other ministers, saying Wike seems to act without restraint. “WIKE’s assignments are far smaller than that of Minister DAVE UMAHI, yet the man is so humble while WIKE subjects Nigerians to his tautological press conferences as if he’s running his own Federal government and not under anyone’s control.”
Concluding his post, Momodu stated, “Sir, there can’t be two captains in one ship, and I hope WIKE got that message loud and clear from your powerful intervention today.”
