Dele Momodu cautions Tinubu ahead of 2027, saying Nigerians want results, not dominance, and that the country differs from Lagos politics.
Renowned publisher and veteran journalist, Chief Dele Momodu, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to present his achievements to Nigerians if he is truly interested in winning a second term in office.
He cautioned that the president must not attempt to govern the country in the same manner he dominated Lagos politics.
Momodu, who has known Tinubu for more than 32 years, stressed that his advice stems from genuine friendship and not malice.
He explained that his long-standing relationship with the president began during their years in exile between 1995 and 1998, when both men were actively involved in the struggle for democracy against military rule.
According to Momodu, after they both returned from exile in England, Tinubu emerged as governor of Lagos State, a position he held for eight years. Since then, the president has remained a powerful force in Lagos politics, influencing the affairs of the state for nearly three decades.
However, the Ovation International publisher argued that Nigeria is a far bigger and more complex entity than Lagos, insisting that the leadership style Tinubu deployed in the state cannot simply be replicated at the national level. He emphasized that Nigerians deserve to see measurable progress, not just political dominance.
Clarifying his stance, Momodu noted that he has nothing personal against the president. Rather, his comments are guided by loyalty and sincerity.
In his view, a “true friend” must be able to speak truth to power, even when such truths are uncomfortable.
In a statement shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday evening, Momodu wrote:
“I have been very close to PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU in over 32 years. We became closer in exile from 1995-98.
“After we returned to Nigeria from England, he became Lagos Governor for eight years and has locked down the state in the last 26 years.
“Rather than join his band of acolytes, I humbly decided to build a global brand and God answered my prayers, the reason I have been able to survive on my modest income.
“I have nothing personal against the PRESIDENT but a true friend should be able to tell him that he cannot hold Nigeria by the jugular like he did in Lagos.
“He should sell his achievements to deserve a second term and not by use of direct and subterranean Federal might… It is that simple.”
By this statement, Momodu urged President Tinubu to let his governance record, reforms, and policies speak for him, rather than relying on political influence or the machinery of federal power.
For Momodu, true democratic leadership is measured by how well citizens feel the impact of government, not by how much control a leader can exert over the political space.