A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Segun Sowunmi, has said President Bola Tinubu is smarter than former presidential candidates Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.

Sowunmi said this on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Monday, shortly after meeting with Tinubu.

Clearing the air on the recent meeting with the president, Sowunmi stated that it does not translate to a betrayal of his affiliation with Atiku, whom he was spokesperson to.

“I am at liberty as an adult to take decisions,” Sowunmi said. “I am not tied to anybody. I am not anti-Tinubu,” the former critic of the president said in a sudden turn that has been heavily questioned by many Nigerians.

Further speaking, he said,.“I own my mouth, I own my words, and I own my arguments.

“I’ve been in this party forever. The only time we go to them is after they’ve lost and we need to shore them up. 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 added.

Addressing his relationship with Atiku, Sowunmi revealed that he's not part of a coalition organized by the former vice president.

“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.

On his visit to Tinubu's residence, he said the president invited him during the Eid celebrations.

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.”

ASA