It was a glorious homecoming for chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and frontline presidential aspirant, Aare Dele Momodu, when he stormed Edo State last weekend.
As part of his nationwide consultation tours, Momodu, the publisher of Ovation International Media Group was in his home state to formally declare his intention to contest for the office of the president of Nigeria.
Momodu disclosed that he decided to return to his roots and run for the presidency, adding that he is better qualified that anyone who has so far thrown his hat in the ring for the same purpose.
The state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and members of his executive council treated him to a state reception. On his visit to the palace of the paramount ruler of Benin Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, Oba of Benin, Momodu received a rousing royal welcome. At the palace of the Esama of Benin, Chief (Dr.) Gabriel Osarawu Igbinedion, he was treated to a reception that was befitting of an aristocrat.
However, Momodu’s visit to his ancestral home, Ihievbe in Owan East local government area, on Saturday, February 5, turned out to be the most historical, as it elicited poignant memories for the presidential hopeful. The visit was coming exactly fourty-nine years after he left his village when his father died.
At an elaborate ceremony that emptied virtually everybody in the sleepy community to the venue of the event, Momodu declared he is the most qualified to be president of the country having garnered tremendous experience through his interactions with past presidents and heads of state in Nigeria and other countries in the world.
Welcoming Momodu, the traditional head of Ugba village in Ihievbe community, Pa. Rufus Aigbevbole described Momodu as a son in whom they are well pleased.
On his part, the Senator who represented Edo North between 2007 and 2011 Yisa Braimah, said the presidential hopeful is the locality’s best choice for Aso Rock in 2023.
When Momodu visited him at the Dennis Osadebe State House in Benin, Governor Obaseki pledged his support for his presidential aspirations, saying that though the road may be tough, he will surely surmount all obstacles.
He described Momodu as a household name in Nigeria, who needs no introduction in entrepreneurship and quality, and harped on the fact that administrative or political gyneology is not and should not be the prerequisite for running for government offices, but competence and service delivery, asking “how do we transist this country from what it is to what it should be”.
Obaseki frowned at those he called apostles of the old order, who know nothing about the new, stressing that the world is changing, and Nigeria must change alongside.
He applauded Momodu for taking up the challenge to contest, adding that time has passed when everyone sits in the comfort of his house and ‘comment and lament’ without doing anything.
“I want to congratulate you as it is not only those who have amassed so much wealth or has been in the corridors of power have the prerequisite to contest. You have given me joy. I am your governor and your leader, so I have no choice but to support you. If I don’t, how do I expect other people to support you. You are our own product…many more of us will come. And it will only help us towards producing an Edo president,” he said.
On Monday, February 7, Momodu and his entourage paid a courtesy call on Ewuare II, Oba of Benin.
Receiving the presidential hopeful, his wife, Bolaji Momodu and his entourage, the revered Bini monarch pledged the peace and mercy of God on all Nigerians as they find unity, saying the right person to lead the country is that person that will unify her.
In his address, Momodu intimated the Oba of his intention to run for the presidency of Nigeria come 2023, stressing that it is imperative that someone, who has the interest of the nation at heart; someone who has traversed the length and breadth of the country should be given the opportunity to lead the nation.
“The nation has been in long search for unity, and needs the one person that has made friends across the nation and beyond to be the unifying factor. I have decided not to comment from the sideline but join the fray to rescue our dear country as president. Unity is what this nation lacks most, and I am that person that can bring about the unity with your support,” Momodu told the Oba Ewuare.
In his response, which was accompanied with prayers for the presidential aspirant and his entourage, Oba Ewuare said that the country’s major challenge is lack of unity, coupled with human trafficking. He noted that Nigeria needs the person that could bring these scourges to an end. He agreed that this can happen, only if Nigerians will agree to work together as one entity. And as a result, he said the nation needs someone who would lead the people to such agreement.
While acknowledging that Nigeria is not the only country battling with several issues, Oba Ewuare, however, noted that a worthy leader will see to functional working of the country’s diversity. He, however,promised that the traditional institution will do everything within its powers to reduce the challenges of disunity if not completely eradicated.
Oba Ewuare further hailed Momodu for his dexterity in managing the Ovation brand for over 26 years, noting that both the brand and Dele Momodu has gained worldwide recognition, without any form of drop in its contents and standard.
Momodu is one of the few Nigerians, who have traveled the length and breadth of the world in search of both greener pastures and propagating the beauty and image of Nigeria.
This is one attribute the veteran journalist says speak for him, in his quest to effect Nigerians more positively from the exalted seat of Mr. President.
Momodu has used his years of profitable travels to sharpen his knowledge of world peace and how to bring about the dividends of democracy without rancour, so much so that none of the aspirants is more qualified that he is. His engagements with world leaders, leaders of thoughts, opinion molders and industry bigwigs put him at a vantage position, to bring speedy development for the country.
Indeed, Oba Ewuare’s acceptance of Momodu’s visit and aspirations was expressly displayed as he permitted a group photograph with Momodu and members of his entourage in a rare show of magnanimity.
