A prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Segun Sowunmi, asserts that President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) possesses greater intelligence than his rivals, including Peter Obi of the Labour Party.
The former spokesperson for the PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, clarified that his recent engagement with the president does not signify a betrayal of his loyalty to Atiku, who previously served as vice president.
“As an adult, I have the freedom to make my own choices,” Sowunmi remarked during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today program on Monday. “I am not beholden to anyone. I do not oppose Tinubu,” stated the former critic of the president, in a surprising shift that has raised skepticism among many Nigerians.
Nevertheless, the PDP leader dismissed his critics. “I am responsible for my words, my statements, and my reasoning,” he declared.
“I have been a member of this party for a long time. The only time we engage with them is after they have faced defeat and require our support. Do you understand the distinction between Bola and the others? He does not employ a singular method for everyone. By a significant margin, he (Tinubu) is more astute than them. He is more intelligent than Peter Obi, he is more intelligent than the rest,” he continued.
In response to claims of having betrayed Atiku, Sowunmi stated that Atiku is leading a coalition in which he is not involved. “Is he (Atiku) currently campaigning for the presidency? He is managing a coalition that everyone knows I am not a part of. Why would anyone, even in their wildest imagination, think that I lack my own identity because of what? Do you have any idea how long I have been affiliated with the party?” he questioned.
Sowunmi stated that the president extended an invitation to him at his Bourdillon residence located in the upscale Ikoyi area of the state during the Eid celebrations.
He remarked that after serving in office for two years, “it’s not an inappropriate time to engage in a dialogue with the President.”
Sowunmi expressed, “I was worried that this democracy was struggling, and I do not believe it is his fault. I find it perplexing that after approximately 24 years, political parties would suddenly think they can evade responsibility by blaming others for their difficulties. I found that unacceptable.
“I started to feel somewhat uneasy with the vilification of all policies by those who lack an understanding of what is required to create innovative ideas that could be effective.
“I chose to engage with him since there are discussions about his frailty. Therefore, I took the initiative to investigate that matter.”
The PDP leader commended the president’s mental sharpness. “His mind is very alert, he is in good shape. You can tell when you are posing questions to someone and they respond without needing to refer to notes,” he noted.
“I firmly believe that there comes a moment in a nation’s journey when it is essential to ascertain whether the path a leader is taking is the correct one or at least if it aligns with the intended course, and I assure you, he is intelligent — above average,” he asserted.
Sowunmi indicated that he would not accept an appointment from Tinubu while remaining a member of the PDP.
Sowunmi was not the only former spokesperson for Atiku to have met with Tinubu. In November 2024, Daniel Bwala, a prominent critic of the president and former spokesperson for Atiku, was appointed as Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Policy Communication following his meeting with the president.
