I recently watched an interview on Arise TV featuring Chief Dele Momodu, a chieftain of the PDP and ADC. It was fascinating — not just for his eloquence, but for how it exposed the real motivations driving much of Nigeria’s political class.
The first thing that struck me was Momodu’s claim that politicians, especially from the South, who are leaving the PDP — once the most formidable party in Nigeria — are doing so under a “spell.” He even suggested they might have been “jazzed.” He seemed particularly shocked that Senator Ben Bruce had left the PDP to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. According to Momodu, this wave of defections has weakened the opposition and pushed Nigeria toward a one-party system.
Momodu also defended Atiku Abubakar’s decision to contest again in 2027, arguing that the Nigerian Constitution does not mandate power rotation between the North and South. He accused former President Goodluck Jonathan of having breached any such gentleman’s agreement.
Then came his most troubling comment: he advised his political mentor, Atiku Abubakar, and the ADC to play politics of ethnicity and religion to win the 2027 election.
These remarks left me asking: are Dele Momodu’s politics driven by national interest, or by stomach infrastructure?
It is time for all well-meaning Nigerians to begin asking such questions. We are a country blessed with talent, resources, and potential. Nigeria should be standing shoulder-to-shoulder with nations like China, Singapore, and South Korea. Yet, after more than six decades of independence, we remain trapped by poor leadership and political selfishness.
Let’s examine Momodu’s claims one by one.
First, on the so-called “spell” affecting politicians who switch parties, it may be Chief Momodu himself who is under a spell of denial. Many Nigerians, including those who once opposed President Tinubu, have begun to acknowledge some of the administration’s policy directions as bold and necessary.
Take the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project. While critics like Atiku Abubakar have called it inflated “ten times over,” the project’s long-term benefits for trade, tourism, and regional development cannot be ignored. Ironically, Atiku once oversaw a $16 billion electricity project that produced no light and no result.
The ongoing tax reforms are another example. They aim to move Nigeria from oil dependence to a modern, tax-driven economy, the model used successfully by most developed nations.
Our overreliance on oil revenue has only fueled corruption and stagnation. A fairer and more efficient tax system is therefore a welcome change.
Similarly, the removal of fuel and foreign exchange subsidies, though painful, was long overdue. These subsidies benefited a few elites while draining public resources. Yes, Nigerians are feeling the pinch, but the economy is beginning to adjust. Inflation and exchange rates are showing early signs of stability. To dismiss this progress as “jazz” is to ignore reality.
Momodu’s second argument — that the Constitution does not require power rotation, may be legally correct but is politically reckless. He forgets that Nigeria’s stability often depends on delicate regional balance. In 1999, both major parties zoned the presidency to the South-West as a healing gesture after the June 12 tragedy, a move championed largely by northern politicians.
If former President Muhammadu Buhari ruled for eight years with southern support, then it is only fair and statesmanlike to allow the South its turn. Leadership isn’t just about legality; it’s about equity and wisdom.
But perhaps the most disappointing of Momodu’s remarks is his open call for ethnic and religious politics. For a man trained at Ife, one of Nigeria’s finest intellectual centers, to prescribe tribalism and religion as campaign tools is deeply troubling. What kind of leadership emerges from such divisive foundations?
Nigeria doesn’t need leaders who manipulate ethnic fears or religious emotions to grab power. We need leaders driven by ideas, vision, and competence — not by the hunger for political relevance or personal gain.
Chief Dele Momodu’s comments reflect a broader disease in Nigerian politics: the triumph of ambition over patriotism. Until our politicians put the nation above their personal interests, Nigeria will continue to stumble where it ought to soar.
The choice before us is clear: national interest or stomach infrastructure.
Femi Is a Professor Of Economics And Public Policy Analyst
