2027: Showunmi urges Ogun non-indigenes, hunters to support Tinubu

Convener of The Alternative Movement, Otunba Segun Showunmi, has urged non-indigene associations and hunters’ groups in Ogun State to mobilise their members to support President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

Showunmi made the call on Saturday in Abeokuta, the state capital, during a consultation with members of various non-indigene associations and hunters’ groups.

Describing the 2027 presidential election as an “election of liberation,” the Peoples Democratic Party chieftain urged the groups to mobilise support for Tinubu across the three senatorial districts of the state.

He said, “This next election is the election that we are going to call the election of liberation. All the votes, let nobody sleep that day, all the votes must go to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

Showunmi said the mobilisation should go beyond winning the election to securing a substantial margin of votes for Tinubu.

“The objective should go beyond merely winning the election to securing a large margin of votes for Tinubu,” he said.

He also argued that the 2027 election would provide an opportunity to demonstrate the political strength of the South, maintaining that political power should continue to rotate among the regions.

“Political power must continue to rotate among the regions, hence, Tinubu must complete his eight-year tenure to deliver Nigeria,” Showunmi said.

The PDP chieftain also appealed to voters from the South-East and other parts of the country to support Tinubu, arguing that the South-West had supported candidates from other regions in previous presidential elections.

Describing non-indigenes living in Ogun as an important component of the state’s social and economic development, Showunmi said he regarded them collectively as the “Ogun Tribe”.

He urged the various communities to participate actively in the 2027 election, stressing that their votes would be significant to the presidential contest.

“All of you are important stakeholders in Ogun State. You have contributed significantly to the development of this state, and your votes will be significant in determining the outcome of the election,” he said.

Responding on behalf of the non-indigene associations, Chairman of the Non-Indigene Association of Ogun State, Egba Zone, Hon. Francis Nwanze, declared the group’s support for Tinubu following Showunmi’s advocacy.

Nwanze said the association had enjoyed Showunmi’s support over the years, including financial assistance during the inauguration of some of its activities.

He maintained that the association, established about 20 years ago, had coordinators across the state’s 20 local government areas.

Nwanze added that representatives from the various local government areas attended the meeting and assured Showunmi that the group would support the Tinubu campaign.

The association comprises members of Igbo, Igede, Tiv, Calabar, Edo and other communities resident in Ogun State.

Similarly, representatives of hunters’ associations at the meeting pledged their support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election.

The Araba of Ogun Hunters, Yusuf Alao, said the group had more than 1,000 members and assured Showunmi that the hunters would mobilise their members to support Tinubu at the polls.

The hunters also prayed for the President’s victory in the 2027 presidential election.

Showunmi faults critics for ignoring Tinubu’s achievements

The Convener of The Alternative Movement, Otunba Segun Showunmi, has faulted critics of President Bola Tinubu, accusing them of ignoring the administration’s achievements while focusing on negative developments.

Showunmi spoke during an engagement in Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State, where he canvassed support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

He accused some presidential contenders of refusing to acknowledge positive developments under the Tinubu administration, alleging that they were quick to celebrate challenges facing the country.

“You will never hear them, especially those so-called presidential candidates. They will never rejoice if anything good comes to Nigeria,” Showunmi said.

“By the time they hear there's a small challenge, they will be rejoicing.”

He urged Nigerians to disregard what he described as negative reports about the President, particularly allegations questioning his health and fitness to seek re-election in 2027.

“Never listen to the ideas of naysayers,” he said. “Never listen to the ideas of people who hate themselves and only laugh at mischief and at bad news.”

Showunmi insisted that Tinubu was in good health and of sound mind, dismissing allegations that the President was on a medical vacation or might not be fit to contest the next election.

“The president has answered that question by saying that this is a world where when you're in politics there's a lot of rumour,” he said.

“The way you saw him bouncing when he was coming from the plane, does that look like someone that is not well?”

He added, “The president is in good health. The president is a sound mind.”

The Alternative Movement convener also defended Tinubu's decision to miss the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, arguing that the President's absence should not be interpreted as evidence of ill health.

Tinubu has missed the UN General Assembly for three consecutive years, with Vice-President Kashim Shettima representing Nigeria at the 79th, 80th and 81st sessions in 2024, 2025 and 2026, respectively.

Showunmi argued that the Vice-President's representation was sufficient, questioning the benefits of the President's physical attendance at the annual gathering.

“The United Nations that people talk about, they don't probably know that the presidency is won. Anywhere you see the vice president acting in capacity as a representative of the president, it is as good as the president standing there,” he said.

He also cited investments in the gas and maritime sectors as reasons Tinubu should concentrate on domestic engagements rather than attend the international gathering.

“Look at the president. Should he have left a 700 billion investment towards gas in this country so that I can sit down and be taking pictures with some people in the United Nations?” Showunmi asked.

“Or should he have left the $7 billion investment in a seaport for our Ogun state while he's busy taking pictures?”

He further questioned the benefits Nigeria had derived from previous presidential attendance at the UN General Assembly.

“The ones we've been going to the United Nations all these days, including the one we even did with Tafal Balewa, the Golden Voice of Africa. What has been the result?” he said.

“The United Nations is just a gathering of one person saying, yes, sir, I'm here. They've seen me. And Nigeria has been represented, and that is enough.”

Tinubu had also dismissed concerns about his health after returning from a four-week stay in Europe in September, declaring that he was “healthy, sound, and ready to go.”

Showunmi has publicly backed Tinubu's re-election bid, arguing that policy continuity is necessary to allow the administration's economic programmes to take effect.