Segun Sowunmi, a prominent Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former spokesman for Atiku Abubakar, has pointed the finger at President Bola Tinubu for the ongoing crisis within the opposition party. In a recent interview with Channels TV on November 20, Sowunmi argued that Tinubu’s actions, particularly his appointment of Nyesom Wike as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), were central to the turmoil the PDP is currently experiencing.
Sowunmi was particularly critical of the lack of consultation with PDP elders before Wike’s appointment. “President Tinubu is the problem of the PDP,” Sowunmi stated firmly. “He has no business taking Wike from our party and appointing him as Minister without talking to us.” According to Sowunmi, such unilateral decisions have caused significant friction within the party, which he believes could have been avoided with proper communication.
Reflecting on the way past leaders handled similar situations, Sowunmi drew comparisons to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who, he noted, consulted with party elders when forming a government of national unity. “When Obasanjo wanted to form a government of national unity, he wrote to the elders of the party, but what did Tinubu do? He took one of us and put him in a strategic position and suddenly the whole thing is complicated,” Sowunmi explained.
For Sowunmi, the solution to the current crisis within the PDP is clear: the removal of Wike from his ministerial role and his return to the party. “If he wants everything to be okay, sack Wike and return him back to PDP and see if the party will not have stamina and move fast,” Sowunmi asserted. He further emphasized that this course of action would restore stability and strength to the opposition party.
Sowunmi’s remarks underscore his belief that the PDP’s internal issues could be resolved if Wike were brought back into the fold, thus healing the rift caused by his departure and subsequent appointment as a minister. He made it clear that his position on the matter was not ambiguous, stating, “My position is very clear; I’m not speaking Greek; I explained it and justified it.”
The crisis within the PDP has been a topic of intense discussion, with various factions within the party expressing dissatisfaction with both leadership decisions and the party’s direction. Sowunmi’s comments reflect the frustration felt by some members, who see Wike’s defection as a betrayal and a key factor contributing to the party’s fragmentation.
