By Muhammad Mamman
Media entrepreneur and politician Dele Momodu has criticised what he described as the growing dominance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Nigeria’s political landscape, warning that the country risks sliding into a system where meaningful opposition is weakened.
Speaking while reaffirming his support for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Momodu argued that Nigeria’s democracy must preserve a vibrant opposition capable of challenging those in power.
He said Tinubu’s political strength and influence, particularly from Lagos State where he previously served as governor, demonstrate the vast resources available to the president.
“You can imagine how much Tinubu can generate from Lagos State alone, not to talk of the nation,” Momodu said. “When you have an absolute ruler, everything is available to him.”
The Ovation magazine publisher added that his alignment with Atiku reflects what he described as a commitment by some political actors to safeguard pluralism in Nigerian politics.
“If I’m with Atiku, it shows you that it is people who have genuine interest in the country,” he said. “Because I believe there must be opposition politics. There must be opposition candidates.”
Momodu warned that without strong political competition, democracy could be undermined.
“But Tinubu wants to contest against himself,” he added, suggesting that the political environment may discourage viable challengers ahead of future elections.
