Wike belittles Dele Momodu, says ‘I don’t even know his name’

|By Adejumo Adekunle-

-FCT minister dismisses veteran journalist during live chat
-Comment stirs reactions over Momodu’s earlier criticism of Wike’s politics

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has thrown a verbal jab at renowned journalist and publisher, Dele Momodu, referring to him as a “boy” and claiming he does not even know his name.

Wike made the remark on Thursday during a live media chat with select media houses in Abuja, where he was responding to various political issues.

Reacting to a recent criticism from Momodu, who questioned Wike’s loyalty and political relevance, the former Rivers State Governor said dismissively,

“There is this boy, they say he is a journalist. What’s his name? He is big.”

A journalist in the room supplied the name: “Dele Momodu.”

Wike responded,

“Okay, I don’t remember all these names. He was never my friend. He ran for president, but he didn’t get one vote.”

Momodu, the publisher of Ovation International Magazine, had earlier stated that Wike could not decamp to the All Progressives Congress (APC) because doing so would cost him his influence and leverage in Nigerian politics.

The minister’s response is widely seen as a reaction to that statement, which has gained traction on social media and sparked conversations around political allegiance and respect for seasoned professionals.

Political observers view Wike’s comment as further deepening tensions between him and critics of his alliance with the APC, especially in light of his controversial role within the ruling party and strained relationships with his former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) colleagues.

As the 2027 political race begins to take shape, Wike’s statement may fuel further discourse about his next move—and how he handles dissent from influential voices like Momodu.