Amaechi is the lion of Africa, says Dele Momodu

 

Momodu

Dele Momodu, the publisher of The Ovation, has taken to social media to galvanise support for the former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, describing him as the lion of Africa. 

Momodu’s social media campaign intensified on Monday and Tuesday morning as concern over the fate of the ex-governor’s ministerial slot continue to grow.

Momodu had earlier urged President Mohammadu Buhari to disregard Amaechi’s critics; protect him with his last strength and ensure that whatever offence he had committed was forgiven.

Amaechi

He said, “If I were Buhari, I would protect and promote Amaechi with my last strength; whatever sin he committed is nullified.”

Soon after posting the remark, social media users lashed at him, saying he was taking the cause for Amaechi’s minister too far.

Many of critics said Momodu was putting unnecessary pressure on the lawmakers and over Amaechi’s nomination, saying Nigeria was bigger than an individual.

Attack on Momodu by other Internet users (who described him as a praise singer) has not stopped his massive social media campaign.

He resumed the campaign on Instagram and Twitter on Tuesday morning, declaring his readiness to stay with Ameachi till end.

“We are watching; even if postponed, we are waiting with him,” he said. The tweet came before the Internet was awash of reports that the ex-Rivers governor’s screening was, indeed, postponed.

Responding to caution warning from his fans who observed that the social media show he had put up was fast eroding his integrity, the ex-presidential candidate said, “Even husband and wife do disagree; on this issue please forgive me, on Ameachi I stand. We can still be friends later.

“He was a star in the Peoples Democratic Party who taught us 16 can never be greater than 19 despite attempts to change simple mathematics.” 

Also describing Ameachi as “lion heart”, he said those who attempted to cage the ex-governor had more to lose in the battle.

“Even guards in the zoo are more endangered that the lions they try to cage,” he posted.

Momodu said he threw his support behind politician as he was convinced that he deserved a place in the current administration.

Momodu said his support was as a result of his personal choice, adding that he extended similar support to former President Goodluck Jonathan when he faced injustice.

He said his support for the nominee would not lose relevance except “if the dictionary meaning of credibility changes.”

According to him, Amaechi’s nomination is not a do-or-die issue but the campaign is a response to the action of the opposition camp.

“There trick is very devious obvious – demonise Amaechi brutally and hope Nigerians would be fooled. We stand with you (Amaechi),” he noted. 

Momodu had replaced his Twitter profile photograph with that of Ameachi while he went into history to unveil photographs of the making of Amaechi’s political career, highlighting the battles he fought to attain his current status.

#IStandWithAmaechi, an hashtag promoted by Momodu, has since on Monday gone viral on social media.

The Amaechi cause is, perhaps, the biggest online battle the publisher would fight. His critics said he has thrown caution to the wind in bid to defend the indefensible.

Tweeting on @enobong, Rebecca Roberts, said, “Come on, man you ran for presidency one time; support your bad friend privately.”

Responding to Momodu’s Instagram post, one Eny Eniola wondered why Momodu, with his status, had suddenly become Amaechi’s social media campaign manager.