Chief Olisa Metuh has backed Reno Omokri’s claim that he hired Segun Showunmi as Atiku’s spokesman in 2019 based on his personal recommendation.
A former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, has backed Reno Omokri’s claim that he was the one who hired Segun Showunmi as spokesperson for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar during the 2019 Presidential campaign.
Metuh confirmed that Omokri indeed handled the hiring process, following his recommendation.
During a phone conversation with journalists, Metuh explained how it happened:
“It happened in 2018 when I was still in politics. When Reno called me to recommend someone for Atiku, I initially thought of Deji Adeyanju, but I remembered that he had left the PDP. I had encouraged him to set up an advocacy group to fight for Nigeria’s cause.”
Then I remembered Segun, so I recommended him to Reno. I told Segun to call Reno, and he did — and that was it,” he said.
Metuh emphasized that the appointment of Showunmi came without any confusion or disagreement:
“There is absolutely no controversy about that,” he stated.
Before ending the conversation, Metuh added:
“I don’t think Reno and Segun are still in the PDP, and so, there is no controversy about that.”
MJConcept TV News recalls that Reno Omokri, who previously served as spokesperson to former President Goodluck Jonathan, made the claim during an interview on “The Honest Bunch” podcast. He was responding to suggestions that he only became well-known due to his involvement in Atiku’s campaign.
Omokri also reiterated his account on Facebook, offering more details:
“If I am nothing at all, I am a meticulous record keeper. In May 2018, Olisa Metuh, the former spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party, recommended Segun Showunmi for the role of spokesman to Waziri Atiku Abubakar.”
Mr. Metuh asked Segun Showunmi to send his resume (what we call a CV) to me. Thereafter, Olisa Metuh asked Segun Showunmi to contact me for a job interview.
I spoke to Segun Showunmi from California and negotiated his salary with him. I thereafter informed Waziri Atiku Abubakar, and Segun Showunmi was announced as his spokesman on the terms I negotiated with him.
If there is any controversy, or if anybody is using foul language to deny the obvious truth, then I urge the media to contact Mr. Olisa Metuh, who is an eyewitness and who was the one who recommended Segun Showunmi to me for employment as Waziri Atiku’s spokesman.
After he was employed, Mr. Segun Showunmi returned to Mr. Olisa Metuh to thank him for recommending him to me. I do not want to be forced to publish documentary evidence. I would rather not. But if I have to, then I can.
I urge anyone wanting to deny the obvious to think twice. Again, I repeat that if I am nothing at all, at least I am a meticulous record keeper.”
Meanwhile, MJConcept TV News had earlier reported that Segun Showunmi rejected Reno Omokri’s claim, describing it as “rubbish” in a statement issued on Monday night.