Dele Momodu Alleges Escort Withdrawal Controversy Was Done to Target Opposition

Veteran journalist and political commentator Dele Momodu has accused the Tinubu administration of orchestrating the recent VIP escort withdrawal controversy as a strategic move to weaken opposition voices and manipulate public sentiment.

The controversy began when an unverified list circulated online, claiming that police escorts had been withdrawn from several high-profile Nigerians, including former First Lady Aisha Buhari, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Although the police later dismissed the list as fake, the public reaction was swift and intense.

In a sharply worded piece titled Why Are Nigerians So Easily Fooled?, Momodu argued that the list was not a mistake but a deliberate political test. He claimed it was designed to gauge public reaction to the idea of stripping security from prominent figures, particularly those critical of the current administration.

“They deliberately included most unlikely names… It became clear to me that Atiku was one of their main targets,” Momodu wrote, suggesting that the inclusion of Atiku Abubakar was part of a broader plan to undermine influential opposition leaders.

He described the list as a “test balloon,” floated to prepare the ground for future actions, and said he was not surprised when the government distanced itself from the document once public outrage grew.

Momodu further accused the administration of trying to vilify wealthy Nigerians who legally employ police escorts, warning that such tactics could endanger lives in a country already grappling with widespread insecurity.

“Tinubu is willing and ready to set fire to an entire village in order to catch a few rodents,” he wrote, criticizing what he sees as a reckless and politically motivated approach to security reform.

He argued that genuine reform would involve expanding the police force and allowing private citizens to fund additional protection legally, rather than using security as a political weapon.

Momodu concluded by warning that the alleged strategy fits into a larger effort to silence dissent ahead of future elections, stating, “Tinubu is leading Nigeria to Golgotha.”