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Intimidation, blackmail won’t guarantee Tinubu’s second term – Dele Momodu
Dele Momodu, journalist and Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, Dele Momodu, on Monday warned President Bola Tinubu that no amount of intimidation and blackmail of the opposition could guarantee him a second term in office, urging him to reverse such anti-democratic tactics.
A guest of The Morning Brief, a breakfast programme on Channels Television, Momodu, himself once a presidential candidate, while weighing in on the current political crisis in Rivers State, where a State of Emergency was imposed a fortnight ago by the President, described the move as undemocratic.
The outspoken critic, particularly bemoaned the suspension of the democratic structures in the state including Siminalayi Fubara, the State Governor and members of the House of Assembly, with whom he had been at war since October 2023,
Momodu, who reminded the President that the office he now enjoyed was what other prominent leaders, including the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola and Obafemi Awolowo failed to attain, adding that he was embarrassed at the use he had put the opportunity.
Hear him: “I think it is very unfortunate. I know President Tinubu very, very, very well. Though I’ve not been in the same party with him and all that, we were together in exile, and he fought gallantly for this democracy. So, a lot of us, co-comrades at that time, are actually very embarrassed that we have a pro-democracy leader in government, and yet what we are witnessing is worse than dictatorship.
“And I have said it openly so many times, in many open letters, you can fail in economy, no problem; people will forgive you and say you’re not a professor of economics. You can fail in other areas, but don’t fail in democracy.
“You must deepen our democracy, which President Goodluck Jonathan succeeded in doing, which Obasanjo succeeded in doing, despite allegations and accusations of a third term attempt, still managed to hand over power to President Yar’Adua.
“So, but now, it is less than two years into this government and we’re witnessing crisis upon crisis, just because some people want second term. God gave you what he did not give Abiola, what he did not give Olu Falae, what he did not give Chief Obafemi Awolowo. These were great leaders. They didn’t have it. Now you have it. How you manage it is what matters.
“I’m pleading with President Bola Tinubu, ‘Please don’t kill democracy in Nigeria.’ Everybody who loves him will tell him this. I don’t; I’ve not asked him for anything, but we love him for his contributions to the democracy, which is fast going down the drain. You do not need to hand over your future to gods with feet of clay. I’ve written this over and over again. You should just hold on to God. If God says you’ll be there forever, so be it. But don’t force it.
“What we’re seeing now is an attempt to force all governors in Nigeria to follow him by fire by force. It is wrong. If some people did not allow you to try, you will not be where you are today. So, leave these governors in their states. If they are in PDP, they’re in Labour, if they’re in APGA, wherever they are, allow them to thrive in opposition. That is the meaning of democracy.
Stressing that Tinubu was hostile to dissenting voices, Momodu, also accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of intimidating the opposition said the government now thrived in blackmailing everybody, warning the President against being misled by advisers.
“That is too clear. I’m unequivocal about that and I can see them blackmailing everybody. Once you speak – I remember our governor in Bauchi State spoke the other day. By the following day, they had picked up one of his key officials and took him away. I remember when Bola Tinubu was being harassed by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, we all rouse up stoutly to defend him – that you cannot just oppress a man just because he is in opposition.
“That is why we are saying it confidently and openly, that Tinubu should not repeat this same nonsense that some people did to him in the past that we all went against. We went against it. Today, everybody is afraid. You know, I’m in the system. Everybody is now dealing with Tinubu with trepidation. You see opposition governors, everybody falling over themselves to praise him.
“You see, people will deceive you when you have too much power. But watch your back. Just watch your back. Some of your best allies, you’ll be shocked what they will say behind you. I know what they say behind him. So, I’m talking to him, so that he will not say, Dele, why didn’t you tell me at that time.
“I’m saying it now openly to millions of Nigerians that people are deceiving President Tinubu, and he should not allow people to deceive him. He should just do his job.
“He should just do his job. The only thing that can guarantee a second term is to do your job well. You do not need to intimidate anybody. Don’t intimidate Peter Obi, don’t intimidate Atiku, don’t intimidate anybody, because you thrived in opposition.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed the judgement of the federal high court in Abuja nullifying the timelines issued for the conduct of party primaries and the nomination of candidates.
Alex Izinyon SAN, leading a team of lawyers of the commission in a notice of appeal dated May 25, raised nine grounds it urged the appellate court to consider and vacate the judgment the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered on May 20.
Apart from raising the issue of jurisdiction, which it said the lower court did not determine, INEC also maintained that the legal action the Youth Party (YP) initiated against it was not only hypothetical but academic.
Arguing that failure of the trial court to make pronouncements on the issues, resulted in the denial of fair hearing to the Appellant, the commission also stressed the lower court misinterpreted the provisions of the electoral act.
It said: “The high court erred in law when it held that: ‘It is clear from the wordings of Sections 29(1), 82 and 84 of the Electoral Act, 2026, the following can be understood. Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026 mandates Political Parties to submit the names of candidates in prescribed forms of the candidates who emerged from its valid primaries which such a political party intends to sponsor at the elections, not later than 120 days before the date of the General Election.
“What is required of Political Parties to do under the Electoral Act, 2026 is to notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 21 days before the holding of its primaries, congresses or conventions, days before the holding of its primaries, congresses or conventions, or any conference or meeting convened for the election of its executive committees, other governing bodies for nominating candidates.
“The Defendant is not mandated to impose a timeframe for political parties to conduct their primaries provided that it will be done and submitted not later than the 120 days provided by the Electoral Act, 2026. See Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026.”
It was another day of misery in Kwara State, when daredevil terrorists reportedly stormed Yashikira Community in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, and as has been the case in many of the attacks, abducting scores of residents including women and children.
But, apparently to register their authority, the gunmen, who were said to have operated for hours without challenge from the security operatives, were said to have torched the palace of the Emir.
The attackers, which reportedly occurred late Sunday night were said to have announced their presence through heavy firing and after storming the palace of the monarch during the period, set it on fire before whisking away their victims, but a similar attempt at the police station in the community, was repelled.
While some of the residents, narrated how the spent hours without resistance, leaving behind destruction and fear in the border community, another account said the villagers were caught unawares as the gunmen invaded the town under the cover of darkness.
However operatives made up of the police and military personnel, were said to have launched a manhunt immediately for the immediate rescue of the victims, including throwing a cordon in the area as part of the mission.
“The suspect offered ₦500 million to the SPU commander in an attempt to make the team stand down and allow him to contact his associates to move the consignment elsewhere. The offer was rejected immediately and properly documented for further investigation.”
These were the exact words of Olohundare Jimoh Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), with which he detailed how operatives of the Zone 2 Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) scoffed at a N500million bribe to turn their eyes off the importation of a huge consignment of drugs imported into the country.
This was part of the details of a major breakthrough by the operatives after bursting a major drug trafficking syndicate in Lagos, which led to the seizure of suspected illicit drugs estimated at ₦7.8 billion and arresting several suspects, including the alleged kingpin.
In the operation, reportedly carried out by officers of the Special Protection Unit (SPU) in collaboration with divisional police detectives, the operatives, were said to have stormed a house in Mende, Maryland area of Lagos, following months of surveillance and intelligence gathering coordinated by the Zone 2 Headquarters.
The recovered drugs consisted of hundreds of bags of suspected Canadian Loud, allegedly stored in the residence of the prime suspect, Jimoh, said disclosing that the suspect was apprehended on May 19 after weeks of strategic monitoring by operatives.
Offering further details, he said the operation was executed with technical support and guidance from the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, alongside coordinated efforts between the SPU and divisional police teams.
Jimoh revealed that during the operation, the suspect allegedly attempted to bribe the SPU commander with ₦500 million to compromise the mission and allow the movement of the drug consignment.
The AIG described the development as a reflection of the renewed professionalism and operational discipline being entrenched in the Force under the current policing strategy.
He noted that the success of the operation underscored the importance of deploying specialized police units alongside conventional divisional teams in tackling organized crime.
According to him, the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of rapid containment strategies, intelligence-led policing, and professional conduct among the operatives involved in the raid.
“Rapid containment was achieved as the Special Protection Unit worked with divisional teams to secure the perimeter and prevent escape or interference with evidence.
“The operation was intelligence-driven, following months of surveillance and technical monitoring before the raid was carried out.
“The immediate rejection and documentation of the bribe attempt also reflect the standard expected from redeployed personnel at the divisional level,” Jimoh added.
Reacting to the development, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, commended the operatives for their professionalism, saying the success of the operation validated the ongoing redeployment of personnel to divisions and units across Lagos and Ogun states.
The IGP noted: “Policing must be close to the people, and our specialized units must work side by side with divisional teams on the ground.
“The professionalism shown by the SPU commander in rejecting a ₦500 million bribe and following due procedure is the standard we expect. It shows that when you put your best foot forward at the grassroots, you get results and restore public trust.”
Disu further assured that the Force leadership would continue to reward integrity while holding officers accountable to the highest ethical standards.
Police authorities said exhibits recovered during the operation have been properly documented and will be tendered in court. The suspects are currently in custody while investigations continue to track down other members of the drug trafficking network.
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