The dialogue surrounding Nigerian governance reached a new level of intensity this week as veteran journalist and publisher Dele Momodu issued a definitive response to recent criticisms from Reno Omokri and Femi Fani-Kayode.
In a detailed statement, Momodu defended his critical stance on President Bola Tinubu’s administration while questioning the consistency of his detractors.
The media entrepreneur addressed the friction directly, stating that his decision to speak out was a rejection of attempts to enforce silence through what he described as “bullying, silence, and submission.” Addressing Omokri and Fani-Kayode, Momodu was unequivocal, declaring, “No. They can’t. They both have no credibility whatsoever.”
He specifically challenged the duo to reconcile their current advocacy for the administration with their past public statements, suggesting their actions reflect “opportunism” rather than principle.
Throughout his submission, Momodu distinguished between professional criticism and personal defamation. “I have never disparaged Tinubu in my life,” he stated, emphasizing a commitment to evidence-based discourse. He added that he is “intelligent enough not to say what I have no proof of,” while sharply noting that “only morons talk without thinking,” a remark aimed at the nature of the public attacks against him.
At the core of his argument is a long-standing opposition to what he describes as authoritarian tendencies in the current government. “All I have accused Tinubu of is dictatorship and I stand by it with my full chest,” Momodu asserted. He framed this position within the context of Nigeria’s democratic history, specifically referencing the 1993 presidential election. “I oppose tyranny because I once suffered under it,” he noted, questioning the trajectory of civilian leadership by asking, “Why should we replace military dictators with civilian slavemasters?”
The publisher further revealed that his previous moderation was a deliberate choice influenced by his past relationship with the President and appeals from senior Yoruba elder statesmen. “Because of Tinubu, I stopped writing my Pendulum column… out of respect for Yoruba elder statesmen,” he disclosed, suggesting that his earlier silence was principled rather than reluctant.
In a notable addition to the dispute, Momodu alluded to a history of private interactions with both Omokri and Fani-Kayode that contrast with their current public hostility. He claimed that both men had, at different times, reached out to him privately “either begging for publicity or apologising for attacking me publicly.” While he did not provide further documentation, the assertion adds a layer of personal complexity to the public feud.
