Publisher of Ovation International, Dele Momodu, has said President Bola Tinubu’s directive to suspend the sealing of business premises in Abuja over unpaid ground rent underscores his authority over the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Momodu made the remark following Tinubu’s recent intervention in a sweeping enforcement drive led by Wike, which saw several properties in Abuja—including the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)—sealed for defaulting on ground rent payments.
President Tinubu, however, ordered an immediate halt to the exercise and issued a 14-day grace period for defaulters to settle their obligations.
Reacting via an Instagram post, Momodu said the President’s move clearly reaffirms who is in charge.
Read Also: FCT: Wike issues 14 days notice to defaulters to pay ground rent
Momodu praised Tinubu for stepping in and described the decision as a significant check on what he called Wike’s excesses.
“THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TINUBU, Your Excellency, good evening, sir. 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 who sealed the National Secretariat of the PDP, the biggest rival of your ruling party, APC, and properties of other defaulters in Abuja earlier today.
“While no one should condone non-compliance of government obligations, government must always restrain itself from vindictive outbursts such as that of Nigeria’s most querulous politician who I’m sure is fast becoming a liability to your government. The decision to stop Wike today achieved several points in your favour.
“We used to think we have two presidents in Nigeria, TINUBU and WIKE. Now, we know WIKE has a boss who can checkmate his excesses. How I wished you had stopped his reckless disruption and distraction of the SIM FUBARA government in Rivers State and saved the hapless people from this unfortunate contraption called emergency rule.
“Nigerians are currently going through so much hardship and pain, and you need to rescue them from WIKE’s additional burden and insults. WIKE’s assignments are far smaller than that of Minister DAVE UMAHI, yet the man is so humble while WIKE subjects Nigerians to his tautological press conferences as if he’s running his own Federal government and not under anyone’s control.
“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.”
 Minister, Nyesom Wike.){kind=link}