By Dele Momodu, PDP Presidential Aspirant 2023
My dear Egbon, Dr. Doyin Okupe,
I’m more amazed at your flip-flops, Sir. You’ve been engaging in sophistry since your days as Obasanjo’s Spokesman in 1999 until you fell out. You’ve defended almost all governments since then with your eloquence. What has Nigeria gained?
I’ve been consistently in opposition for the last 42 years. Even the Buhari that I supported, regrettably, in 2015, I dumped within two months when I saw a total lack of direction, and I’ve apologized profusely and endlessly. I will never defend useless government policies. There’s nothing more we want Nigeria to give us at this age and stage than good leadership.
You and I met at the London Hilton Metropole in the dying days of the Jonathan government and you boasted that no Jupiter could defeat Jonathan in an election. We had a bet of 20k USD and you lost. You begged me for debt forgiveness just two years ago at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja.
I’m sure you must have persuaded the gentleman that since the economists rated Nigeria very high, he could never be defeated. But you forgot that a government must never rely solely on theoretical economic indices. It must be balanced with the real and practical economy.
About two months ago, President William Ruto of Kenya was given a royal welcome to the White House in Washington DC. Today, he is being treated like a pariah in his own country. Heaps of praises from the Western world cannot guarantee a safe economy.
You later worked on the Presidential bid of Senate President Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki before ending up with Governor Peter Obi. I won’t bother about the outcomes. Like Reno, I acknowledge your brilliance, but only both of you know why Tinubu is your sudden idol.
The people of Nigeria have never had things so bad, and you’re both defending a profligate government with untenable economic hocus-pocus.
I will personally carry Tinubu on my head if he’s able to cut the reckless spending of his government, make palpable sacrifices, ignite an agricultural revolution, and empower our brilliant and energetic youths with vocational grants instead of distributing cash to phantom politicians. But with advisers like you, no government can succeed.
——–
In his piece, Dele Momodu challenges Dr. Doyin Okupe’s shifting political alliances and defends his own long-standing opposition to ineffective governance, calling for true leadership and economic reforms in Nigeria.