Veteran journalist, Ovation Magazine publisher and PDP chieftain Dele Momodu has raised the alarm over what he describes as unprecedented economic hardship in Nigeria, warning that the country is facing a “flood of begging” as citizens struggle to survive under the current administration of President Bola Tinubu.
In a series of interviews and public statements in recent months, Momodu, 64, has expressed deep scepticism about government economic policies, while also speaking candidly about the human cost of the crisis — from rising poverty to a growing culture of dependence and desperation.
“I Have Never Seen This Level Of Bitterness”
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today and on News Central’s Soni Irabor Live, Momodu said Nigerians are experiencing hardship at a scale he has not witnessed before. “Everywhere you turn in Nigeria, people are crying. I have never seen this level of bitterness and I hope the president is taking this criticism in good faith,“he said.
He argued that President Tinubu may not fully grasp the extent of the suffering because of political dynamics around him. According to Momodu, the wave of defections from opposition parties to the ruling APC could create “a false sense of progress” and shield the presidency from ground realities. “I hope people are telling him the situation of things out there because there is no way he can feel or know it. He who feels it knows it,” he stated.
“No Light At The End Of The Tunnel”
Momodu challenged recent assurances from government officials, including the Minister of Budget and National Planning Atiku Bagudu, who promised improved living conditions.“I’ve lived long enough in this country called Nigeria. I’ve listened to all the sweet talks by politicians. I have yet to see the sign of that light at the end of the tunnel,” Momodu said.
He added that while he wishes the administration well, its effectiveness “would ultimately be judged by its outcomes”. In an open letter posted on Facebook, he went further, declaring: “Nigeria is in big trouble. Our economy has virtually collapsed“.The PDP chieftain accused the government of “reckless waste” at a time of austerity, citing the purchase of presidential jets, “building outlandish monuments, distributing cash as palliatives” as signs of “a failed and careless government“.
The Begging Flood And Personal Struggle
Beyond policy critique, Momodu has also spoken about the social impact of the hardship. In a March 2024 post on X, he publicly apologised for his inability to meet the growing requests for financial assistance. “It has become necessary for me to offer apologies to those who have asked me for one support or the other in recent time for my inability to help. God is my witness, I’m currently overwhelmed by my own projects that require absolute discipline and focus,” he wrote.
He explained that ignoring calls was “because I feel too pained to say NO to you. It is a sign of my respect for you, and not of disdain“, adding that he is “a man of modest income” trying not to “overstretch my luck”. The remark highlights a wider trend Momodu has referenced — what he calls a “begging flood” — as more Nigerians, including those abroad, seek help amid tightening economic conditions.
Momodu has also drawn from personal experience to caution against romanticising life outside Nigeria. Recounting his exile in London in 1995, he described a period when he “was crying and begging” a landlord after failing to pay rent. He used the story to urge Nigerians to explore opportunities at home, noting that “having ₦30-40 million in Nigeria can provide a comfortable life and enable entrepreneurship“.
Calls For Frugality And Accountability
In his letter to President Tinubu, Momodu urged a shift from spending on optics to investing in development. “If you can curb the excessive spending of your government, you will free up a lot of resources for serious development,” he wrote.
He also weighed in on governance, criticising political defections and saying the constitution “has been thrown overboard” as elected officials switch parties without vacating their seats.
Despite his criticisms, Momodu said his position comes from a place of patriotism: “It’s not in my interest for Nigeria to collapse,” he noted.
A Nation At A Crossroads
As floods ravage parts of Kogi and Benue and inflation continues to bite households, Momodu’s comments reflect a growing sentiment among citizens and observers that urgent, people-focused reforms are needed.
For the Ovation publisher, the conversation is no longer just about statistics — it’s about dignity, survival, and whether leadership can match rhetoric with results. “If they do it well, Nigerians will applaud them, but if they don’t, those coming after them will also tell them the same thing they’re talking about Buhari now,“he warned.
