Segun Showunmi, the ex-spokesperson of former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has said Mohammed Hayatu-Deen represents the kind of leadership Nigeria needs at this moment.
Showunmi, the Spokesperson of Atiku during the 2019 and 2023 presidential campaigns on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
He told Charles Aniagolu, during an interview on Arise News’ daily programme on Thursday, that his former boss, though he possesses significant institutional memory and political experience, due to fatigue, the country may now require a different kind of leadership energy to confront its present challenges.
Both Atiku and Hayatu-Deen are seeking the ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Showunmi, who is the Convener of The Alternative Platform, a national opposition movement advocating for a new generation of democratic leadership, said Hayatu-Deen possesses the economic competence, technocratic depth, and private sector experience necessary to confront Nigeria’s worsening economic crisis and reposition the country for sustainable growth.
“That is the guy who has the best CV,” Showunmi said. “He is a breath of fresh air. I think that he is quite brave to look at the political space and offer up his experience to serve.”
He advised that Nigerians should begin to pay closer attention to the ideas, competence, and policy depth of presidential aspirants, rather than allowing critical national conversations to be consumed entirely by political theatrics and personality contests.
Also in the race for the ADC ticket is former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi. But Showunmi said Amaechi is running on entitlement and ambition.
“He must have convinced himself that just because he came second in the last presidential primaries of the APC, maybe one more try may make sense.
“I have tried very hard to listen to him say some big things that can excite me, but I have not heard them. That does not mean he cannot, but right now, he does not move me,” the former spokesperson stated.
He, however, acknowledged that Peter Obi, who may be seeking the ticket of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has political energy and a support base, but suggested that broader national consensus and coalition-building would remain critical to any successful presidential bid.
“I think that for Peter, there is energy there. Any fair-minded person knows that he has to be fair for his own bloc to be able to lead here,” he said.
