Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesperson Olisa Metuh has confirmed that Reno Omokri indeed hired Segun Showunmi as the spokesperson for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in 2018.
In a phone conversation with newsmen, Metuh validated Omokri's recent claims about his role in Showunmi's appointment. "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," Metuh explained.
"I had encouraged him to set up an advocacy group to fight Nigeria's course. Then, I remembered Segun so I recommended Segun to Reno. I told him to call Reno and he called Reno and that was it," he added.
The former PDP spokesperson emphasized that there was "absolutely no controversy" surrounding the recommendation and subsequent appointment of Showunmi as Atiku's spokesperson. Before concluding the conversation, Metuh noted, "I don't think they are (Reno and Segun) still in PDP anymore and so, there is no controversy about that."
Omokri's Earlier Claims
The confirmation comes after Reno Omokri, former spokesperson to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, stated during an interview on The Honest Bunch podcast that he had hired Showunmi and other aides for the former Vice President.
Omokri made this disclosure while refuting a comment suggesting he gained public prominence as Atiku Abubakar's spokesperson. In a statement also shared on his Facebook page, Omokri detailed the hiring process.
"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," Omokri stated.
"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," he explained.
Omokri further urged anyone seeking to verify his claims to contact Metuh, who he described as "an eyewitness and who was the one who recommended Segun Showunmi to me for employment as Waziri Atiku's spokesman."
He also mentioned that after being employed, Showunmi returned to thank Metuh for the recommendation.
"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," Omokri cautioned.
This revelation provides insight into the political appointments within the PDP and clarifies the circumstances surrounding Showunmi's role in Atiku's team during the period leading up to previous election cycles.
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