By OBSERVERS TIMES
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Dele Momodu has commended President Bola Tinubu for intervening to stop the sealing of properties in Abuja over unpaid ground rent—a move Momodu describes as clear evidence that Tinubu remains firmly in control of his administration.
On Monday, May 26, the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA), under the leadership of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, commenced sealing several business premises across Abuja. Properties affected included banks, filling stations, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) office, and notably, the PDP national secretariat. The enforcement followed the discovery of billions of Naira in unpaid ground rents owed by these entities.
The aggressive enforcement action sparked widespread public outrage and criticism from affected property owners. In response, President Tinubu ordered a temporary suspension of the sealing exercise, granting defaulters a 14-day grace period to settle their outstanding ground rents.
Reacting to the development via Instagram, Dele Momodu praised the President’s decisive intervention, describing it as a vital check on what he called Minister Wike’s excesses.
“Thank you, President Tinubu, Your Excellency. I have just read here in America that you stepped into the matter of your cantankerous Minister of FCT, Mr. Nyesom Wike, who sealed the PDP National Secretariat—the biggest rival of your ruling APC—and other properties earlier today,” Momodu wrote.
While acknowledging the importance of compliance with government obligations, Momodu criticized Wike’s approach as vindictive and disruptive, accusing the Minister of acting with impunity and as if he were above authority.
Momodu further called on President Tinubu to rein in Wike’s political activities in Rivers State, where Wike has been engaged in a protracted power struggle with Governor Sim Fubara.
“We used to think there were two presidents in Nigeria—Tinubu and Wike. Now, we know Wike has a boss who can checkmate his excesses,” Momodu said. “How I wish you had stopped his reckless disruption of the Sim Fubara government in Rivers State and spared the people the hardship of an emergency rule.”
He added, “Nigerians are already enduring so much hardship. They need relief from Wike’s additional burdens and insults. His assignments are far smaller than those of Minister Dave Umahi, who remains humble, yet Wike subjects Nigerians to tautological press conferences as if he is running his own federal government.”
Momodu concluded with a pointed reminder: “Sir, there cannot be two captains on one ship. I hope Wike got that message loud and clear from your powerful intervention today.”
