The publisher of Ovation International, Dele Momodu, has claimed “everyone is afraid” of former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar.

Momodu was explaining why he decided to leave the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

He also admitted he would be supporting Atiku ahead of the 2027 presidential elections.

Speaking on Channels TV on Thursday, Momodu insisted his support for Atiku is based on a strategic understanding of Nigeria’s political reality.

He said: “Everybody is afraid of Atiku, and that is exactly why I, Dele Momodu, support him.

“The fear the ruling party has for him shows he remains the most formidable opposition figure today.

“When everyone is trying to discredit or silence a man, it means he’s the one they truly fear.”

Momodu in the past contested for the presidency in 2011 and participated in the PDP primaries in 2022.

Traditional worshippers under the aegis of the Isese Worshippers of Ogun State have said that the exclusion of Isese rites from the burial of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, was a show of disrespect to Yoruba cultural heritage.

OSUNDAILY NG reports that the monarch died at the age of 91 on Sunday.

Oba Adetona, the longest-serving monarch in Nigeria’s traditional institution, who was installed as king on April 2, 1960, passed away after a 65-year reign.

He was buried at his residence in Ijebu Ode on Monday.

OSUNDAILY NG also reports that shortly before the religious rites were conducted, a mild drama ensued as traditionalists were forcefully prevented from performing customary burial rituals at the monarch’s private residence.

The traditionalists, who arrived in large numbers, were reportedly blocked by security operatives of the Nigerian Army, who marched them to the gate.

Reacting to the development, the traditional worshippers, in a meeting held on Thursday and chaired by Oba Dr Ifarotimi Adifagbola Balogun, the Oba Isese of Ogun State, condemned the manner in which Islamic rites were exclusively observed at the burial, sidelining the traditional ceremonies historically linked with royal passages.

Oba Adifagbola described the incident as a “tolerance and peaceful disposition” of traditionalists who, in their bid to promote interfaith unity, have allowed their children to marry across religions.

He said the chosen burial method was disrespectful to Yoruba tradition and warned that such forbearance should not be mistaken for weakness.

“We condoned the situation out of love for the society, not because we are powerless.

“But it is time our children learn to take pride in and participate in the religious practices of their parents. This is how our traditions can regain their place of honour,” Oba Adifagbola added.

Also speaking, the Oluwo of Iperu, High Chief Ifasola Opeolu, described the development as “an aberration and a slap on the traditional institution.”

To prevent a recurrence of the incident in Ijebu Ode and to curb what they termed the “erosion of cultural identity,” the Isese community revealed that a committee had been set up to engage the Ogun State Government and review existing laws regarding the burial of Obas.

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bode George, has described the decision by Peter Obi, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, and Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President, to form a coalition ahead of the 2027 election as shocking.

Speaking on Channels TV on Thursday, Bode George said the duo are aligning with a party he described as “a ship that is already sinking.”

He accused Atiku and other PDP stalwarts defecting to the African Democratic Congress, ADC, of fuelling the crisis currently rocking the opposition party.

He stated, “Those who created the PDP crisis are the ones leaving. We are holding our NEC meeting in the coming week and when we meet, we will discuss the programme of the party.

“We will approve all the committees that are going to handle the convention of the party.

“The fact that we are in a position to hold that meeting, you will see at the end that the Iroko tree has been resurrected.

“I am shocked that Obi, Atiku, and others are jumping into a ship that is already sinking.”

Atiku had on Wednesday officially dumped the PDP for the ADC, citing the unending crisis.