In a candid interview on TVC News, political analyst and commentator Segun Sowunmi spoke sharply on the recent turmoil within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing the party’s internal struggles as both embarrassing and counterproductive.
The interview began with the host highlighting Sowunmi’s apparent concern over recent developments, noting the party’s ongoing defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the controversial events at the PDP headquarters in Wadata Plaza.
The host asked, “I can see that you’re one of the aggrieved members of the PDP at the moment. You are not smiling concerning what is happening in your own party.
”What we saw yesterday was a show of shame for your party, but at the moment defections are eating your party. We are likely to see more governors move from your party to the APC.
”Are you worried with this development hitting the PDP at this time? And secondly, what do you make of the role of the security operatives at what transpired yesterday at the Wadata Plaza?”
Sowunmi responded without hesitation, offering both sharp criticism and satirical commentary on the state of the opposition party.
“Don’t mind them. Don’t mind them at all. Kudos to the security operators. If you didn’t have them there, they probably would have shot themselves and killed themselves.
”Perhaps next time when they want to fight, when they call security, security should not go. So maybe when they kill themselves, they will understand why cases go to court and why they must respect court orders,” he stated.
He further criticized the PDP leadership for what he described as a lack of decorum and responsible management.
“You will claim you have internal affairs, you will not show anything that is decent and respectable for even young children to see. If this was how Awolowo did politics, people like us will not be interested in it.”
Sowunmi acknowledged the gravity of his statements, emphasizing personal accountability for his words.
“You have to be careful with the choice of your words this morning. Let’s be civil with what you’re saying. These words are well considered and I hold the liability. I hold myself liable for every word I’m using.
”I’m a media person as well and I understand the business of public speak. I’ve not directed abuses at any one of them. But some of these people need to be told in clear language that this is embarrassing.”
Turning to the issue of defections and party instability, Sowunmi expressed skepticism over the PDP’s ability to retain influence, particularly at the state level.
“Now you ask the other question. The governors are leaving. If I were a governor, especially I pity the one in Osun. Before he knows what’s happening to him, he will find out that they won’t be able to produce a candidate there because of this misbehavior.”
He went on to lambast the party’s internal machinery, criticizing its mobilization efforts and financial stewardship during recent primaries.
He said; “They’ve just done an amra under the watch of these men who are calling themselves lovers of the party. How much mobilization did they do there? How much financial support did they put there?
”How did they produce a candidate that could not even get any numbers? They are not talking about messaging. They are not talking about party stabilization. They are not talking about solution. They’re just sitting in one place fighting over nothing.”
Sowunmi also highlighted what he sees as the party’s misplaced blame culture.
“And guess who their next person to blame? If they are finished blaming Wike, the next person they’re going to blame is president Bola Tinubu as if he’s supposed to come into their party for them to come and help them organize it. I don’t get it.” Read Original