A former presidential aide and the Director-General of the Labour Party’s presidential campaign in the 2023 election, Doyin Okupe and publisher Dele Momodu are currently at each other’s throats over what the former described as a “flip-flop” in the former’s political party loyalty choice.
Trouble started when Momodu took to his official X (formerly Twitter) handle to attack Okupe for his political party inconsistencies in the past few years.
“My dear Egbon, DR DOYIN OKUPE, I’m more amazed at your flip-flops Sir. You’re Reno’s senior in engaging in sophistry since your days as Obasanjo’s Spokesman in 1999, till you fell out.
“You’ve defended almost all governments since then with your eloquence. What has Nigeria gained!”, he directly tweeted at Okupe on Friday.
Momodu continued, “(I’ve been consistently in opposition in the last 42 years. Even the Buhari that I supported, regrettably, in 2015, I dumped within two months when I saw a total lack of direction, and I’ve apologised profusely and endlessly.
“I will never defend useless government policies. There’s nothing more we want Nigeria to give us at this age and stage than good Leadership…) You and I met at the London Hilton Metropole in the dying days of the Jonathan government and you boasted that no Jupiter can defeat Jonathan in an election.
“We had a bet of 20k USD and you lost. You begged me for debt forgiveness just two years ago at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja… I’m sure you must have persuaded the gentleman that since the economists rated Nigeria very high, he can never be defeated.
“But you forgot that a government must never rely solely on theoretical economic indices. It must be balanced with real and practical economy.
“You later worked on the Presidential bid of Senate President DR ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI before ending up with GOVERNOR PETER OBI. I won’t bother about the outcomes. “Like Reno, I acknowledge your brilliance, but only both of you know why TINUBU is your sudden IDOL… The people of Nigeria have never had things so bad and you’re both defending a profligate government with untenable economic hocus pocus…
“I will personally carry TINUBU on my head if he’s able to cut the reckless spending of his government, make palpable sacrifices, ignite agricultural revolution, empower our brilliant and energetic youths with vocational grants instead of distributing cash to phantom politicians, etc… But with advisers like you, no government can succeed,” Momodu wrote.
However, in a response on Saturday, Okupe advised Momodu to speak with facts and not mere sentiments.
He wrote, “I am surprised you also did not stay with the facts.”
Okupe then went ahead to reel out his thread of political appointments as a political adviser during Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, late Yar’Adua’s, and then Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
He said, “You retorted that I have advised and praised every govt since 1999. That is not true. I only acted as an adviser in the Obj’s administration, which remains one of the most successful since the advent of the 4th Republic.
“I did not play any significant role in the Yaradua’s administration that succeeded Obj’s. I became an adviser for the second time in the Jonathan administration which was defeated by the Gen Buhari-led APC. Jonathan’s defeat was not because of any societal hardship or economic issues.
“Jonathan’s administration led Nigeria to an economically prosperous Nation, taking our GDP to $500B, and an unprecedented number 1 position in Africa. Why Jonathan was “defeated” is another matter entirely which may not be known to u because of your remoteness to the inner core of political power play at that time. This will be a topic for another day.
Okupe argued that Momodu’s fuss about his association with the likes of Bukola Saraki, Peter Obi, and then his support for President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, was nothing but mischief.
“My associations with Bukola Saraki and Peter Obi are in no way different from your current association with HE Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. All three were presidential aspirants or candidates of different parties at different times.”
“Making any issues out of this is nothing but crass mischief. I am neither a member of the APC nor an adviser to the administration.
He then defended several economic policies of President Tinubu.
He said, “I appreciate the bold initiatives President Bola Tinubu took to remove fuel subsidy, which was assented to by ALL candidates during the campaign. I also fully support the sectoral equalisation of our forex market.
“Both reforms are responsible for the hardship our people are currently experiencing, but which I believe will be temporary judging by the strenuous efforts the govt is making towards ameliorating them.
“This is not praise singing. I do not count myself as a member of the opposition, hence, I am able to be objective and understandingly supportive. I may not have had a hand in installing this govt but it is my country and I am a stakeholder in it. I do not pray for it to crash or go down.
“This cannot be an offence. We all are practitioners, players and known actors in this Amphitheater, no need to go personal.”
He advised Momodu to keep criticisms rational, mature and professional.
He wrote, “Finally Dele, let me publicly acknowledge and appreciate your generosity in granting me that much appreciated debt forgiveness of $20k. I could not afford it! But truly, then, I never imagined we could lose that election. However, man proposes but God Almighty ONLY disposes.”
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