Convener of The Alternative Movement, Otunba Segun Sowunmi, has dismissed speculation surrounding President Bola Tinubu’s health, saying the President is in good health and of sound mind ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Sowunmi made the remarks on Thursday during a town hall meeting in Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State, where he also urged Nigerians to reject hate speech, rumour-mongering and what he described as a tendency to celebrate negative developments in the country.
His comments came amid renewed discussions over Tinubu’s absence from the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York and claims by some critics that the President’s absence was connected to his health.
Sowunmi dismissed such claims as political rumours, arguing that similar speculation had been made about Tinubu in the past.
“The President is in good health. The President is in sound mind,” he said.
The political activist urged Nigerians not to allow disagreements over politics to turn into what he described as “continuous self-hate,” saying citizens should also pay attention to developments capable of attracting investment and promoting economic growth.
“You cannot indulge in continuous self-hate to the extent that all you’re looking for is bad news. The President is in good health. The President is in sound mind,” Sowunmi said.
Sowunmi attacks focus on negative reports
Sowunmi also criticised what he described as an excessive focus on negative developments by some Nigerians and political opponents.
He urged citizens to consider positive developments in the country and efforts aimed at attracting investment rather than concentrating exclusively on challenges.
“Never listen to the ideas of naysayers. Never listen to the ideas of people who hate themselves and only delight in mischief and bad news,” he said.
He further accused some opposition presidential candidates of failing to acknowledge positive developments whenever they occur while highlighting challenges for political purposes.
“You will never hear them, especially those so-called presidential candidates. They will never rejoice if anything good comes to Nigeria. By the time they hear there’s a small challenge, they’ll be rejoicing,” he said.
Sowunmi speaks on Ogun’s voting strength
Turning to the 2027 election, Sowunmi said Ogun State’s large number of registered voters should translate into stronger voter turnout.
He said the state now has almost three million registered voters and argued that Ogun should be able to produce voting figures comparable with those recorded in other populous states such as Kano, Katsina and Kaduna.
“The total number of registered voters in Ogun State is now almost three million. There is no reason why the people of Ogun State should not produce numbers that can rival those of Kano, Katsina or Kaduna,” he said.
Sowunmi also expressed confidence that Tinubu would win Ogun State in the 2027 presidential election and called on residents to participate in large numbers.
“The advocacy that the President is not going to win, forget about that. He is going to win here,” he said.
He added that his immediate appeal was for voters to come out in large numbers and produce what he described as the numbers needed for Tinubu.
Backs Abiodun for Senate
Sowunmi also reiterated his support for Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun in the forthcoming Ogun East senatorial election.
He urged residents of the district to take the contest seriously, arguing that the area’s proximity to both the business community and the Presidency makes effective representation in the Senate important to Ogun State’s interests.
His comments come as political activity intensifies ahead of the 2027 elections, with debates over Tinubu’s record, his health, economic conditions and his re-election bid becoming increasingly prominent.
