A Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Segun Sowunmi, has praised President Bola Tinubu, saying he is smarter than his opponents, including Peter Obi of the Labour Party.
Sowunmi said this on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Monday.
Sowunmi, a former spokesman for Atiku Abubakar’s 2023 presidential campaign, revealed that he recently met with President Tinubu when he invited him to his Bourdillon residence in the highbrow Ikoyi area of the state during the Eid celebrations.
Sowunmi said he decided to engage with Tinubu to understand his policies and direction, despite criticism from others.
The PDP chieftain expressed discomfort with the demonisation of policies by those who don’t understand what it takes to design futuristic ideas.
He said having been in office for two years, “it’s not a bad time to have a conversation with the President”.
Sowunmi said, “I was concerned that this democracy was faltering and I don’t think it was his fault. 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’t like that.
“I began to be a little bit uncomfortable with the demonising of all policies by those who don’t understand what it takes to design futuristic ideas that could work.
“I decided to engage him since people talk about his frailty. So, I jumped on that investigation.
The PDP chieftain praised Tinubu’s mental agility, saying he is “above average” and “smarter than them.”
”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 said.
He, however dismissed his detractors, saying ,“I own my mouth, I own my words, and I own my arguments.
”I am at liberty as an adult to take decisions. “I am not tied to anybody. I am not anti-Tinubu.”
On arguments that he had betrayed Atiku, Sowunmi dismissed claims that his meeting with Tinubu was a betrayal of his affiliation with Atiku, saying he is at liberty to take decisions.
Sowunmi said Atiku was running a coalition that he was not part of.
“Is he (Atiku) running for president now? He’s running a coalition that everybody knows I am not part of.
”Why would even in your wildest dream think I don’t have my individuality because of what? Do you know how long I have been in the party?” he queried.
Sowunmi said he won’t accept any appointment from Tinubu while still a PDP member.
