*Segun Sowunmi, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, confers with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, declaring the Nigeria President is smarter than his key opponents in the political arena, including Peter Obi and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, stating ‘I am at liberty as an adult to take decisions. I am not tied to anybody. I am not anti-Tinubu’

Alexander Davis | 绿帽献妻

In regard to capacity, and values-based leadership, Segun Sowunmi, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress is smarter than his opponents, including Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice-President of Nigeria.

Sowunmi, a former Spokesman for Alhaji Atiku during the 2023 Presidential Election on the platform of the opposition PDP, said his recent meeting with President Tinubu, in Ikoyi, Lagos, did not translate into a betrayal of his affiliation with Atiku.

The opposition party chieftain, who is a former staunch critic of President Tinubu, said this Monday, June 8, 2025, while featuring on Channels TV programme monitored in Lagos, stated: 鈥淚 am at liberty as an adult to take decisions.

鈥淚 am not tied to anybody. I am not anti-Tinubu.”

Reacting to some Nigerians’ criticisms about possible betrayal of his own party and key figures in it by conferring with Tinubu, Sowunmi simply dismissed his detractors.

He also said: 鈥淚 own my mouth, I own my words, and I own my arguments.

鈥淚鈥檝e been in this party forever. The only time we go to them is after they鈥檝e lost and we need to shore them up.”

Tinubu ‘smarter than them all by miles’

The PDP chieftain asked his critics: “Do you know the difference between Bola and them? He doesn鈥檛 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,鈥� he added.

On arguments making the rounds that he had betrayed Atiku in particular, Sowunmi said Atiku was running a coalition that he was not part of.

He asserted: 鈥淚s he (Atiku) running for President now? He鈥檚 running a coalition that everybody knows I am not part of.

“Why would even in your wildest dream think I don鈥檛 have my individuality because of what? Do you know how long I have been in the party?鈥�

Explaining the reason why Nigerians should not demonise Tinubu administration’s economic policies and reforms, Sowunmi disclosed that the President invited him to his Bourdillon residence, in Ikoyi, Lagos State, during the Eid celebrations.

According to him, having been in office for two years, 鈥渋t鈥檚 not a bad time to have a conversation with the President.

鈥淚 was concerned that this democracy was faltering and I don鈥檛 think it was his fault.”

The opposition party chieftain further argued: “I do not understand after about 24 years, political parties would just suddenly assume that they have an escape route of blaming others for their woes. I didn鈥檛 like that.

鈥淚 began to be a little bit uncomfortable with the demonising of all (Tinubu’s) policies by those who don鈥檛 understand what it takes to design futuristic ideas that could work.”

Mr. President’s brain is alert, he’s fit, declares Sowunmi

Relating his experience during a meeting with President Tinubu in his private residence in Lagos, Sowunmi stated: 鈥淚 decided to engage him since people talk about his frailty. So, I jumped on that investigation.鈥�

Against the opinion of sine that he is physically weak, the PDP chieftain rather lauded the mental agility of President Tinubu.

He declared: 鈥淗is (Tinubu’s) brain is very alert; he is fit. You know when you are asking someone questions and he is answering without looking at the book.

鈥淚 just believe that there comes a time in the life of a nation where you must try to be sure whether the direction a leader is going is the right direction or at least whether it is the intended direction.”

The PDP chieftain added: “I guarantee you, he (Tinubu) is smart 鈥� above average.”

Events have since proved wrong his critics in this regard.

It is recalled that Tinubu, late October 2022 ahead of the campaign for the 2023 Presidential Election, had told Nigerians that he is smarter than his opponents in the race for Nigeria鈥檚 top job at the time.

Speaking at a dinner organised by the Business Community, in Kano, after his return to Nigeria after 12-day vacation in the United Kingdom (UK) then, Tinubu told his audience that he has “the physical and mental capacity” to lead Nigeria.

While there had been speculations that Tinubu suffers from Parkinson鈥檚 disease, an ailment that affects the central nervous system, the then APC Presidential Candidate disagreed with his critics.

Describing his critics as ignorant, Tinubu, a former Senator and Governor of Lagos State averred that he does not need the “strength of a heavyweight wrestler to lead Nigeria”, if elected President in 2023.

Tinubu further said: 鈥淪ome ignorant people, I have been standing before you. I am not running for a 100-yard or 500-yard race. I am running for the Presidency.

鈥淚 am not competing in WWE wrestling. Even if I go out there and they say sick oo, I am standing before you, do I look a sick man?”

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