PDP chieftain Segun Sowunmi says he’s willing to work with President Tinubu and will leave the opposition party if offered a role, praising Tinubu’s mental alertness
Segun Sowunmi, a prominent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has openly declared his willingness to work with President Bola Tinubu, stating that he would resign from the opposition party if such an opportunity presented itself.
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Sowunmi made the statement on Monday during an appearance on Politics Today, a programme aired by Channels Television.
The declaration followed his recent meeting with President Tinubu, whom he described as intellectually sound and mentally alert.
“There has never been a doubt that I can work with him. There’s never been a doubt,” Sowunmi affirmed, referring to the President.
When asked whether he would accept a formal appointment from Tinubu while remaining in the PDP, Sowunmi was unequivocal.
“I don’t do that type of nonsense. If I am going to work with the president, I’m going to leave the PDP, because I’m wondering completely. I have worked with the president,” he said.
The PDP stalwart, known for his vocal criticism of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration, had in the past described the current government as “rudderless” and accused it of “ethnic concentration and lopsidedness.”
When asked whether he still holds those views, Sowunmi responded, “Yes, at a point,” suggesting his perspective may have evolved.
Despite past criticisms, Sowunmi expressed admiration for President Tinubu’s leadership qualities.
“So the president was mentally and psychologically alert. I’ve known him for a while and I know how he thinks,” he noted.
He recounted a candid discussion with Tinubu in which the president directly asked whether he would accept an appointment.
Reflecting on his earlier experience in public service, Sowunmi referenced his time under Otunba Gbenga Daniel’s administration in Ogun State.
“The only time I was ever on an appointment in government was the government of Otunba Gbenga Daniel. Credit to him.
He knew I was like a pain. You know why? I can’t stand when people get on one after the other in meetings just to do sycophancy instead of cutting to the chase. I used to do that a lot,” he said.
Sowunmi’s comments have sparked political speculation, especially as Nigeria inches closer to future electoral contests and party realignments.
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His remarks could signal a broader shift in political allegiances within the opposition space.