A former spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, has confirmed Reno Omokri’s claim that he hired Segun Showunmi as the spokesperson for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in 2018.
Metuh, who was a key figure in PDP’s media team during his time in politics, said he personally recommended Showunmi for the role after Omokri reached out to him for suggestions.
“At first, I thought of Deji Adeyanju,” Metuh explained, “but I remembered he had left the PDP. Then I suggested Segun. I told him to call Reno, and that was it.”
Metuh described the process as straightforward, saying there is “absolutely no controversy” surrounding the recommendation or Showunmi’s eventual appointment.
“I don’t think Reno or Segun are still in the PDP,” he added, “so there’s really no issue to argue about.”
Reno Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, made the initial revelation during an appearance on The Honest Bunch podcast. He was responding to claims that he became publicly known only after working with Atiku.
Omokri, who also shared the statement on his Facebook page, said he personally negotiated Showunmi’s salary after interviewing him from California. He emphasized that Atiku Abubakar accepted his recommendation and hired Showunmi based on the terms discussed.
“I’m a meticulous record keeper,” Omokri said. “I spoke with Segun, negotiated his pay, and then informed Waziri Atiku. Segun was later announced as the official spokesman.”
He warned those trying to deny the facts to “think twice,” stating that he has documentary proof if needed.
Omokri also revealed that after Showunmi got the job, he returned to Metuh to express his gratitude for the recommendation.
Both Metuh and Omokri’s statements appear to settle any public confusion over who appointed Showunmi to Atiku’s media team in 2018.
