I’d Swim the Atlantic for Tinubu If He Upholds Democracy – Dele Momodu

Publisher and former presidential aspirant, Dele Momodu, has said he would go to extraordinary lengths to support President Bola Tinubu if his administration truly upholds the democratic principles they fought for during Nigeria’s military era.

Speaking on Arise TV Thursday, Momodu declared: “I will ordinarily swim to the depth of the Atlantic Ocean for Tinubu if he was practising what we fought against when we were fighting the military. But I would be a bloody hypocrite if, after claiming to have ended military dictatorship, we now replace it with civilian dictatorship.”

Momodu stressed that his criticism of Tinubu is not personal, noting that the President was among those who trained him to challenge authority and instilled discipline during the pro-democracy struggle of the 1990s.

He credited Tinubu’s political success in Lagos as the foundation for his rise to national prominence, while acknowledging their shared history in the fight for the June 12 mandate of Chief Moshood Abiola.

Both men fled into exile during General Sani Abacha’s crackdown on activists, returning after Abacha’s death in 1998.

Despite their long-standing relationship, Momodu has become an outspoken critic of Tinubu’s administration, warning against policies that risk sliding into authoritarianism.

He emphasized, however, that his respect for Tinubu’s role in shaping his political consciousness remains intact.

Momodu, who contested the presidency in 2011 under the National Conscience Party, is now aligned with the African Democratic Congress and continues to play an active role in opposition politics ahead of the 2027 elections.

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