Dele Momodu and Femi Fani-Kayode during their ongoing public dispute
Introduction to the Dele Momodu and Femi Fani-Kayode Dispute
The Dele Momodu vs Femi Fani-Kayode dispute sparked a brickbat drawing attention across Nigeria’s political space. The Dele Momodu vs Femi Fani-Kayode dispute has continued to attract attention across Nigeria’s political landscape.
Femi Fani-Kayode is the Ambassador-Designate to Germany and former two-time Minister for Culture and Aviation, while Dele Momodu, is the publisher of Ovation Magazine.
Momodu portrayed himself as a Catholic canonized saint and demonized Fani-Kayode, fondly called FFK.
Dele Momodu’s Early Career and Relationship with MKO Abiola
Some facts will suffice. Observers say the Dele Momodu vs Femi Fani-Kayode controversy reflects deeper issues around loyalty and political alignment.
Dele Momodu got his journalistic breakthrough in 1988 when he secured a job with the defunct Concord Newspaper owned by the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola. He worked there for two years before leaving to join Classique Magazine, owned by the late May Ellen Damijo.
After he left barely a year later, Abiola did not abandon him and made him a distributor with Wonder Loaf Bakery.
Role During the June 12 Election and Business Support
When Abiola threw his hat into the ring for the June 12, 1993 presidential election, he co-opted Momodu as part of his media team. The Dele Momodu vs Femi Fani-Kayode controversy continues to draw attention, especially when revisiting past political relationships and alliances. Before then, after Momodu set up a PR firm, Abiola’s first son, Kola, gave him the account of Summit Oil, which greatly stabilized the new firm, as well as a Mercedes-Benz to aid his mobility.
He also paid for his first trip to the UK, which helped broaden his worldview.
Controversy Surrounding Ovation Magazine and the Abacha Era
How did he repay Abiola?
When he started Ovation Magazine in exile in the UK in 1996, because of the love for mammon, he celebrated the Abachas, splashing their odious pictures of luxury on its pages.
This was the same Abacha who not only sent him into exile but also jailed his mentor, who loved him like his own son and stood as his father during his wedding in 1992 in Ogun State.
His ruthlessness was akin to the old saying that there are no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests. Abiola was dead and gone, so why merely hang on to an old memory, a negation of the Omoluabi ethos?
Relationship with Bola Ahmed Tinubu
When he first got to the UK, he was penniless until Bola Ahmed Tinubu gave him £500 for his survival.
How did he repay Tinubu?
He teamed up with the opposition to greatly denigrate his administration, despite the fact that he could have privately criticized him if he truly wanted his criticisms to have any impact.
Political Alliances and Support for Atiku Abubakar
After his presidential election loss, where he infamously got only one vote, presumably from his wife, he teamed up with serial presidential aspirant and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to feather his political nest and advance his stomach infrastructure, since social media had rendered Ovation largely irrelevant.
He became part of Atiku’s media team and started doing PR for the Turakin Adamawa.
Momodu, also the publisher of The Boss online newspaper, did not care that Atiku frequently switches political parties and does not stay to rebuild them as a mark of leadership and political maturity.
What were his antecedents as Vice-President when he was in direct charge of the economy? How did the privatization process go? Were national assets not sold to cronies at giveaway prices? Momodu does not seem to care as long as Atiku can pay his bills.
Public Perception and Criticism
No serious-minded Nigerian should take Bob Dee seriously, as what he does appears driven by personal gain.
No wonder Gen Z coined a name for him, “Dele for food only” (DFFO). He also got into an infamous dispute with popular artiste Davido, young enough to be his son. How shameful.
Final Thoughts on Dele Momodu’s Political Positioning
Momodu should leave politics alone and focus on celebrity journalism, which is what he knows how to do best. Intellectualism is clearly not for everyone.
Tony Ademiluyi is a Lagos-based journalist and writer.
Also from Tony Ademiluyi: The Goodies from the UK State Visit
About The Author
