Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and former presidential aspirant Dele Momodu has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for intervening in the mass sealing of properties in Abuja by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), while criticising FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, accusing him of behaving like a “co-president.”
The FCTA, under Wike’s directive, had sealed over 4,000 properties on Monday, including high-profile buildings such as the PDP National Secretariat, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) offices, Access Bank, TotalEnergies, and Ibro Hotel, over unpaid ground rent.
However, the FCTA Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, later announced a two-week grace period for defaulters to settle their outstanding dues, citing President Tinubu’s intervention.
“By Mr. President’s intervention, holders of the affected properties now have 14 days to settle the outstanding ground rents, with associated penalties,” Nwankwoeze stated on Monday evening.
Reacting on Tuesday via Facebook, Momodu praised Tinubu for stepping in to de-escalate the situation, stating that the move reaffirmed the President’s authority.
“I have just read the news here in America that you have stepped into the matter of your cantankerous Minister of FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike… While no one should condone non-compliance of government obligations, government must always restrain itself from vindictive outbursts,” Momodu said.
He described Wike as “Nigeria’s most querulous politician,” adding, “We used to think we had two Presidents in Nigeria, Tinubu and Wike. Now, we know Wike has a boss who can checkmate his excesses.”
Momodu also used the opportunity to criticise Wike’s handling of the political situation in Rivers State, accusing him of undermining Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and calling on Tinubu to rein in the FCT Minister’s “reckless disruption.”
“Sir, there can’t be two Captains in one ship and I hope Wike got that message loud and clear from your powerful intervention today,” Momodu concluded.
The episode has sparked renewed political tension, especially within the PDP, which continues to raise concerns about perceived political targeting under the guise of administrative enforcement.
