June 12 comments made by Ovation Magazine publisher, Dele Momodu, have sparked a strong reaction from the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Lere Olayinka, a close media aide to the minister, criticized Momodu for his repeated attacks on Wike, suggesting the veteran journalist might be suffering from a mental breakdown. Olayinka stated that Momodu appears to be “seeing the spirit of Wike” everywhere and may need deliverance and rehabilitation before the situation worsens.
The clash began after Momodu questioned Wike’s role in Nigeria’s pro-democracy movement during the June 12 era. Speaking on national television, Momodu said: “Where was Wike during the June 12 struggle? Who knew him then? But today, he speaks as if he’s the founding father.”
Olayinka responded with sharp words, claiming Momodu’s criticism stems from his personal frustrations rather than facts. He asked whether Wike was responsible for Momodu’s failed attempt to secure even a single delegate vote during the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary in 2022.
He also challenged Momodu’s supposed legacy, saying, “Where was Dele Momodu too when Nigeria was being founded? Was he among the founding fathers of Nigeria, living in the country?”
Olayinka noted that Momodu often exaggerates his involvement in historic political struggles, especially regarding June 12. He claimed that Momodu used the crisis surrounding the 1993 elections to escape the country for his own safety and gain, rather than fight for any meaningful cause.
“He only used the June 12 struggle to Japa,” Olayinka said, using the Nigerian slang for fleeing the country. “He didn’t struggle for anything other than his own well-being.”
Further criticizing Momodu, Olayinka pointed to the use of Sani Abacha’s children—referring to the former military ruler who jailed MKO Abiola—as models in Momodu’s Ovation Photo Book. He said this undermines Momodu’s claims of being a true supporter of the June 12 movement.
“Those who genuinely struggled for June 12 didn’t use children of the man who incarcerated MKO Abiola till he died in custody as models for any photo book,” he added.
He also accused Momodu of seeking publicity through connections with top military figures, rather than standing firm for democratic values. “They did not also go about visiting the mansions of Military Generals to take pictures for publication,” he said.
According to Olayinka, Momodu has no right to include himself in the list of those who truly fought for democracy during that era. “When register of those who fought for actualization of June 12 is being taken, people like Dele Momodu, who used it to hustle should stop forcing their names into it,” he said.
