Segun Sowunmi, a prominent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar’s 2023 presidential campaign, has publicly declared his political independence, emphasizing that he is “not tied to anybody.” Speaking on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” program on Monday, Sowunmi addressed widespread speculation about his recent visit to President Bola Tinubu.
Clarifying the nature of his meeting with the Nigerian president, Sowunmi urged the public not to interpret it as a betrayal of his longstanding affiliation with Atiku Abubakar. Instead, he highlighted his freedom to make autonomous political decisions, stating, “I am at liberty as an adult to take decisions. I am not tied to anybody. I am not anti-Tinubu. I own my mouth, I own my words, and I own my arguments.”
Sowunmi went further to express his admiration for President Tinubu’s political acumen, contrasting it with that of his rivals, including Peter Obi of the Labour Party. “Do you know the difference between Bola and them? He doesn’t have one approach to dealing with everybody. By miles, he (Tinubu) is smarter than them. He is smarter than Peter Obi, he is smarter than them,” he asserted.
This development follows a similar pattern observed in November 2024 when Daniel Bwala, another former spokesman for Atiku and vocal critic of President Tinubu, accepted an appointment as Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication after a meeting with Tinubu.
Sowunmi’s remarks signal a nuanced political landscape where former allies of Atiku are engaging with the current administration while maintaining their independence.
