Prominent Nigerian politician and publisher Dele Momodu has strongly rejected claims that the country's opposition parties were responsible for former US President Donald Trump's recent comments about Christians in Nigeria.
Momodu's Forceful Denial on National Television
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television's The Morning Brief program on Friday, November 7, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain and Ovation magazine publisher described the allegations as baseless. "Look, my brother, anyone who sees opposition behind this is just being clear that they have run out of ideas," Momodu stated emphatically.
The publisher questioned the logic behind the accusation, specifically asking: "The opposition that is trying to put its act together now has time to go to Washington?" He accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of consistently blaming others for national challenges, including frequently pointing fingers at their predecessors.
Wike's Allegations and Political Tensions
Momodu's comments came as a direct response to allegations made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. Earlier in the week, Wike had appeared on Channels Television's Politics Today program where he claimed the opposition was behind Trump's move to characterize the killings in Nigeria as targeting Christians.
Wike had described this alleged opposition strategy as "politics taken too far." When asked if he genuinely believed the opposition was responsible, Wike responded: "It is very obvious, and I have said this." He then presented his theory that the opposition, recognizing they couldn't challenge President Bola Tinubu's return to power through conventional means, had resorted to divisive tactics.
Call to Focus on Real Security Issues
Momodu urged the Tinubu administration to stop politicizing serious security matters and instead concentrate on addressing the worsening insecurity affecting all Nigerians. He referenced Evangelist El-Buba from Jos, noting that the clergyman had consistently raised concerns about Christians being targeted while acknowledging that Muslims also face violence.
"Life has become so cheap that even when 100 people die, the president can still travel that night," Momodu argued, criticizing what he perceived as a lack of empathy from leadership. "No empathy, no sympathy. That's what opposition is talking about — and it has nothing to do with politics."
The ADC chieftain emphasized that the opposition's focus remains on holding the government accountable for security failures rather than engaging in international conspiracies.
