A fresh war of words has erupted between former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, and media entrepreneur and politician, Dele Momodu, over criticisms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Fani-Kayode, who is Nigeria’s ambassador-designate, called on Momodu to refrain from further attacks on the president, insisting that Tinubu had supported him for many years.

He made this known in a statement issued Thursday in Abuja while responding to remarks made by Momodu during a television appearance and in a follow-up statement.

Momodu had earlier criticised Tinubu’s leadership style, comparing it to that of former military ruler Sani Abacha. The comment drew strong reactions from Fani-Kayode and former presidential aide Reno Omokri.

In his response, Fani-Kayode described Momodu’s position as inappropriate and unfounded, urging him to withdraw from further criticism of the president. He also accused Momodu of turning against someone he had benefitted from for decades.

The former minister criticised Momodu’s rebuttal to earlier comments, characterising it as overly emotional and lacking substance. He further advised him to focus on his own political path rather than attacking the current administration.

Fani-Kayode also warned that he would no longer tolerate what he described as misrepresentation and personal attacks, noting that his previous restraint was due to their long-standing relationship.

He reaffirmed his support for Tinubu, stating that he actively backed his 2023 presidential campaign and remains committed to the administration’s policies, which he believes are vital for national development.

The ambassador-designate also dismissed opposition groups aligned with Momodu, describing them as ineffective and not ready to provide credible leadership.

Fani-Kayode maintained that ongoing reforms under the Tinubu administration are in Nigeria’s best interest and should be sustained. He added that comparing the current government to past military regimes was inaccurate and misleading.

The exchange highlights growing tensions within Nigeria’s political space as differing views continue to emerge over the performance and direction of the current administration.