Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to Germany and former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has sharply responded to African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain Dele Momodu over comments likening President Bola Tinubu’s administration to the military regime of the late General Sani Abacha.
In a statement posted on his X account on Monday, Fani-Kayode described Momodu’s remarks as evidence of “a degenerating and worrisome level of cognitive dissonance,” noting that the commentator “sounded drained, tired and broken” during his Sunday interview with Channels Television. Momodu had labelled Tinubu a potential dictator and suggested his administration could be considered worse than Abacha’s, referencing Tinubu’s tenure as Lagos State governor from 1999 to 2007.
While expressing personal affection for Momodu, Fani-Kayode criticized his commentary, suggesting he take a break from political analysis. “I love Dele and God knows I have immense respect for him, but he sounded drained, tired and broken and spoke little sense yesterday,” he said. He urged Momodu to “overhaul his intellectual engine” and regain perspective.
Fani-Kayode also accused Momodu of disrespecting not only the president but also the vice president, ministers, senators, and newly appointed ambassadors, many of whom he said have far more governance experience. He extended his criticism to the ADC itself, calling it “a badly patched up inflatable plastic life boat” lacking leadership, direction, and substance. He described the party’s membership as “vacuous, shallow, intellectual frauds and political renegades,” attributing defections to the APC not only to the performance of Tinubu and the vice president but also to public perception of the ADC as a party of “disingenuous, desperate and recycled political losers.”
Despite the sharp rebuke, Fani-Kayode concluded by urging Momodu to leave the ADC and join the ruling party, comparing his current role in the opposition to “a gentle, beautiful, well-bred, well-fed, and well-manicured flamingo trapped among ugly, cruel, loud, angry, starving, cackling crows and vultures.” He added, “I appeal to my brother Dele: leave the ranks of the forces of darkness and join us. You are far too good for the company you keep.”
