As each day brings us closer to 2027, the different political parties in Nigeria are not resting in their bid to either retain or take power. While the PDP has been in the spotlight recently for the crisis rocking it, Nigerians are passionate about what the future holds in 2027. In this interview, Segun Sowunmi, a PDP stalwart and former Gubernatorial Aspirant under the party in Ogun State, takes us through the intricacies of opposition politics, consistency, and leadership.
Tunde Akingbondere: You are passionate about bringing strong opposition politics back through coalitions. What is the inspiration behind this passionate move?
Well, I have always been passionate about the PDP, and I am till tomorrow a member of PDP. I feel the party has the biggest structure in the local and grassroots areas, and I believe that if that structure is taken advantage of, we can get a lot of things done. I don’t believe that we should be creating new parties every time only because we are not willing to do the hard work to get the whole party to work.
So as far as I am concerned, the people are calling it another name and seeing through it. They just want a platform for their own election, and if they want a platform, it is their right to look for a platform. But I don’t know whether they won’t do primaries where they are going.
Tunde Akingbondere: You were said to have declared Peter Obi the only authentic politician in Nigeria, probably over your boss, Atiku Abubakar, and others. Why is this coming from you?
No, that’s not what is there. You didn’t see that. What you saw is the write-up of the “Obidients” about the comments I made. I was at the May Day event, which is a Labour event. Labour Party, being an offshoot of the labour movement, had many of their people there. I only spoke to the authenticity of Peter by telling them a little bit of his story that I know and telling them that he is a bit authentic.
I encouraged Labour Party to stabilize—that if the Nigerian people are tired of complaining about PDP, it must be normal for them to settle their party so that people can look at them. That was all I was saying really. I wasn’t comparing him to any other person, and I was not disparaging him. I was only saying that he is a bit authentic. Except you are a wicked person, since the 2023 election, you have seen Peter Obi moving here and there. He is a bit authentic out there. That was what I meant.
I am a grown adult who is entitled to very strong views that I have. It is my skill that I have used for many people in the past. I don’t see any complication in Atiku Abubakar; there is none. He is still in the PDP. I believe he is a good material, and I also believe that time and seasons must be reviewed in order to know what the time is and what the season is.
The Nigerian populace is full of young men, and young people are looking to a new thing. We will see how it goes. There is a difference between populism or just saying popular things and organised structural behaviour. Political parties don’t just give their structures to anybody. They go out there and do primaries, and it is the duty of anybody to contest in that primary. Whoever wins the ticket is the candidate.
My idea is that anybody that wants to contest under PDP should come to PDP. I do not believe in having to destroy other political parties. If a new party comes on the table, we look at it. If it is good, we will do. But stop insisting that I am for that arrangement. I am not. I do not believe people should be looking for where they want to run their elections and then be trying to empty a big party into a small party. If something comes up, we look at the party and the people behind it before taking a decision. But for now, I am fully a PDP person.
Tunde Akingbondere: What is your opinion about the federal government’s approach to security challenges?
Well, that’s a very brilliant question. I think that the federal government, from Jonathan when the matter became serious to Muhammadu Buhari and now to Bola Tinubu, are joking too much. We have a national security infrastructure, which includes intelligence, and there are things that would have been intelligence reports about the country around insecurity. These would have tracked people who have compromised, talked about the money these people are getting and how they are moving money, and addressed the logistics that move them in and out of our country borders or their modus operandi.
If we stop calling it fancy names, you will be sure that we will have a situation where we can look at it straight in the eye, treat it as crime, pull back all the security reports, and call out all the so-called big men. Nobody is big in Nigeria when you are corrupt. They should be unmasked. But if you keep chasing after their operatives and leaving their leaders or those who are compromised, you will not be able to solve the problem.
Generally speaking, and as far as I am concerned, the reason why they are having this much problem with that issue is because they are not prepared to punish the big people. All these small boys carrying arms—who is buying them for them? All these people that are giving them money—who is moving their money? All these countries pushing them—are we going to say because we are part of ECOWAS, we should allow their people to come and be killing our own people? Leadership is a responsibility. Those in charge now will continue to do their best, but I think their best is not good enough.
Tunde Akingbondere: Some claim the PDP is struggling with internal problems. What is your response?
There is no oblivion anywhere. The Peoples Democratic Party is not having problems in Osun, Ogun, or Oyo. There is no problem with PDP at the state level or local government level. Is it only when one or two people discuss? People should stop saying this. That somebody is shouting every day in the newspaper—does that mean he is the owner of the totality of the party?
By the time we get to the time to do our primary, we will do. By the time we have to choose our candidates, we will do, and the citizens will go and interrogate them, and we’ll see how it goes. The party has to be seriously reformed, and once it is, we will be able to see what exactly we can do to make the party better. PDP is going to survive, and it is going to be around even beyond 2027. The party will still be alive.
To do that, we need to reform the party and take it back to the people and create a party that understands what its responsibilities are per time. You need to be sure how the rules and regulations of the party will be enforced—what constitutes anti-party. These are the issues on the table.
Tunde Akingbondere: But what do you think about the lack of the will by your party to punish persons who have chosen not to leave your party but have been sabotaging your interests like Nyesom Wike?
It is the responsibility of those who are in charge today. Are they going to be in charge forever? Were they in charge yesterday? The fact that somebody is in charge today, the fact that a Pharaoh is there tolerating the Israelites—does that mean another Pharaoh will not come tomorrow who does not care about Joseph?
Tunde Akingbondere: What do you feel about the public perception of your party, particularly among the young population in Nigeria?
Nigerian voters would not have seen Peter Obi if PDP had not given him the VP ticket. Where would they have seen him from? If he had stayed in his APGA, would you have seen him? So when the younger leaders are happy with Peter, I am happy with them too. But there are thousands of Peters among the youth. All the youth can’t be president at the same time. Some youth are good governors, Reps, and Assembly members.
If Peter can run his efforts without giving money, that shows you don’t need a lot of money. You cannot be looking for somebody to be the solution to a problem you can solve. You are Nigerians. It is your right to be interested, join parties, and contest within the age grade.
