0
0
Media entrepreneur and politician Dele Momodu has recounted a conversation he said he had with the late Rilwanu Lukman during the build-up to Nigeria’s 1999 presidential election, claiming Lukman declined an invitation to become Olu Falae’s running mate because he believed the outcome of the election had already been decided.
Speaking during an interview on Nevon HQ, on Tuesday, 7 July, 2026, Momodu recalled that he was part of efforts to persuade Lukman to accept the vice-presidential nomination on the ticket of Chief Olu Falae. According to him, Lukman listened patiently before giving a response that left a lasting impression on him.
Recounting the exchange, Momodu said, “He allowed me to finish talking then he looked at me and said, ‘Dele thank you so much, but unfortunately I cannot be.’ I said you don’t want to be Vice President, he said I cannot be and I said why. He said because the owners of Nigeria has decided Obasanjo is the next president. I said are we not going to have an election and he said it’s not about election that they determine who goes.”
Momodu said he was surprised by Lukman’s response because he believed the forthcoming election would determine who emerged as Nigeria’s next leader. He explained that the conversation remained memorable because it challenged his expectations about the country’s democratic process at the time.
SB E-news.
About the Author
