Publisher and former presidential aspirant Dele Momodu has said he would go to extraordinary lengths to support President Bola Tinubu if the administration upholds the democratic principles they once fought for.
Momodu made the statement during an interview with Arise TV while explaining his criticism of the Tinubu administration and his longstanding relationship with the President.
The publisher said he would even swim to the depths of the Atlantic Ocean for Tinubu if the President practised the principles they defended during Nigeria's struggle against military rule.
Momodu stressed that his major concern was the possibility of replacing military dictatorship with what he described as civilian dictatorship.
He said his criticism of Tinubu was therefore based on his concerns about governance and democratic principles rather than personal hostility towards the President.
The former presidential aspirant also expressed admiration for Tinubu's political achievements and said he would not join people who resort to personal attacks against the President.
According to Momodu, Tinubu was among the people who helped shape his approach to challenging established authority.
He recalled that Tinubu's political success helped transform his reputation from a Lagos-based political figure into a national political force.
Momodu and Tinubu's relationship dates back more than three decades to Nigeria's pro-democracy struggle during the military era.
Tinubu was involved in the National Democratic Coalition, which campaigned for the restoration of the mandate of the June 12, 1993 presidential election after its annulment.
Momodu was also active in the pro-democracy movement and worked for the presidential campaign of the late MKO Abiola before the election was annulled.
His activities during the struggle eventually led to his detention, while Tinubu later went into exile following the military crackdown on pro-democracy activists.
Momodu said the shared history made his criticism of Tinubu particularly different from attacks based on personal or partisan motives.
He maintained that he would readily support the President if he believed the administration was protecting the democratic values for which they had previously risked their freedom and safety.
The comments come as Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 general election, with political parties and opposition figures increasingly positioning themselves ahead of the contest.
Momodu, who previously contested the presidency, has remained an outspoken commentator on national politics and governance.
His latest remarks combine criticism of Tinubu's administration with an acknowledgement of the President's past role in Nigeria's democratic struggle.
The statement is also notable because Momodu did not rule out supporting Tinubu entirely, instead attaching his support to what he considers adherence to democratic principles.
As political alignments continue to evolve ahead of 2027, such positions could become increasingly significant as former allies and opposition figures reassess their relationships with the current administration.
For Momodu, the central issue remains whether Nigeria's current democratic system reflects the principles that pro-democracy activists fought to establish decades ago.