Why Gov. WIKE Is Very Angry With Me

• OVATION Publisher, DELE MOMODU

• Reveals The Content Of His Letter To WIKE

It is no longer news that there is no love lost between Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike and OVATION Publisher, Bashorun Dele Momodu. The Rivers governor is not happy with Bob Dee’s decision to work with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate, as his Media Adviser, Wike, is opposed to Atiku.  Recall that Wike is one of the G5 Governors opposed to Atiku. Because of that, Wike has repeatedly criticised Bob Dee. But the OVATION Publisher had maintained a Golden silence.

A few days ago, Dele Momodu broke his silence and spoke to City People Publisher, SEYE KEHINDE about his disagreement with Gov. Wike. Below are excerpts.

What is happening between you and Gov. Wike?

To be quite honest, I don’t like to speak about Gov. Nyesom Wike because, once upon a time, we were friends, once upon a time, he was my Client, and the Yorubas have a saying that Ijalode ni orin di owe (in the days of disagreements, every song becomes a satire). He is a man I love with all my heart, and that is the truth, very hardworking, very very hardworking. That is why they call him Mr. Project. At a stage, he invited me to Port Harcourt, and I spent good time in Port Harcourt, rebranding him. Because as much as he was working, a lot of people did not appreciate his hardwork because of only one thing, because of only one weakness, his anger. He is a very rambunctious and easily tempetuous person.

We were not friends  originally. I used to be friends with his boss, the Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. He himself alludes to it all the time, that haaa! Dele Momodu, I use to watch you all the time when you and Amaechi flie in helicopter, over Rivers. And I could feel the admiration in him. When I started going there, infact he was so humble. He will open the door of his own car and ask me to sit in his official car and he will just remove the flag on the car. And we had such a healthy relationship. And he used to commend my work. He was spending a lot of money on Television, in particular, he was more of a Television person. By the time I came in with my blistering social media engagements, he showed a lot of appreciation.

He is a family man. He sits down at home. He leaves his house, goes to work and comes back home and we and his friends will eat together. But, something happened. In March 30th last year, I wrote him a letter. By that time, I had started to suspect that he wanted to contest the presidential election but he never told anybody. So, I wrote him a letter, a heart-to-heart letter, something that you will only write to your own friend and blood brother. And I said, I am suspecting that you want to contest, but I want to let you know that I have access to a lot of people in Nigeria  and I know the way they feel about you.

I was playing the role of a Consultant. If you are a Consultant to a man, you should be able to gauge the mood of the nation and let him know the truth. So, I wrote him the letter, in good faith. I didn’t say he shouldn’t run? So, I pleaded with him and I said I want to run. Why didn’t he tell me he wants to run. But, I was able to open up to him that I wanted to run. And I believe that if we are going to run, Nigeria will need, certain Characteristics for the candidate. And I laid down some of these characteristics. I said, from the feelers I am getting, if you actually decide to run, you are going to have to contend with forces, especially in the North, I told him. I don’t usually mince words. And everything I told him, came to pass. I said look, the feeling in the North is that you are anti-Muslim. That is the feeling. They believe you are fighting them, by taking them to court over the VAT issue. They feel he was fighting for the cause of the South. The moment he said he was fighting for the South, definitely he is going to have issues with some people. So, I tried to explain everything to him. And, I said if for any reason, you are not able to run, please the only thing I lack is money. Everything else, God has given me, from global  contacts, to global exposure experience,  God has given me. But as a Brother and as a friend please support me.

I think that was around the time, I listened to Pastor Paul Adefarasin’s sermon where he was talking about Option B, that you must always have Option B. So, I wanted  him to have an Option B, that was the purpose of my letter. And I copied 2 people the letter, so that they will be able to advice me, and also speak to him, because the 2 of them are my mutual friends. One of them is Mohammed Adoki, the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice. We are very close. When he came briefly on exile to Ghana, I was one of those who received him very warmly, settled him in andd we like each other. He is a very brilliant man. Some people have harassed him about his tenure and I felt that it was unnecessary because he did his job as Attorney-General, I believe to the best of his abilities. And  he should be commended, instead of people trying to hound him. He has very powerful enemies. We have become like brothers, he will come to my house, I will go to his place. I will make Amala for him. So, I copied him.

Then, I copied another a lawyer I respect so much, tremendously. For me, he is one of my favourite lawyers in Nigeria. He is Chief Mike Ezekhome. He is my big brother. He is an Afemite from Edo State like myself. So, I copied him in the letrer. And both of them agreed that the letter was very reasonable.

But what was the response of my Governor-friend? He stopped picking my calls, immediately. I tried several times. I will send him messages, he will not respond, so I started thinking that, ok maybe there is more to this. And I will call Adoke, because I know they are close. And I know he is one of those who see him regularly, till today, they see regularly. He said, Dele, don’t worry. You know he is a very busy man. If he has anything against you, he will tell you.

Then one day, I called Adokie again.

(To Be Continued Tomorrow)