Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party and Convener of The Alternative Movement, Otunba Segun Showunmi, has dismissed concerns over President Bola Tinubu’s health and fitness to seek re-election in 2027, saying the President is in good health and capable of serving the country beyond 2027.
Showunmi spoke on Thursday during an engagement in Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State, where he canvassed support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
His comments came amid renewed political debate over Tinubu’s health following the President’s absence from the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Vice President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria at the high-level session, which was held in September. The Presidency had said Tinubu’s absence was not due to any restriction on his ability to travel.
Responding to claims that the President was on medical vacation and might not be fit to contest the next election, Showunmi said Tinubu had already addressed the issue.
He said, “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.
“The way you saw him bouncing when he was coming from the plane, does that look like someone that is not well?”
Showunmi added, “You must beg the people of Nigeria. You cannot indulge in continual self-hate to the extent that all you are looking for is bad news. The president is in good health. The president is a sound mind.”
Tinubu’s absence from the UN General Assembly has become a subject of political discussion, with the President attending the 78th session in 2023 and being represented by Shettima at subsequent sessions, including the 81st session in 2026.
Showunmi, however, argued that the President’s absence from the New York gathering should not be interpreted as evidence of ill health.
“The United Nations that people talk about, they don’t probably know that the presidency is one. 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 sought to justify Tinubu’s decision to remain focused on domestic engagements rather than attend the UN 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?
“Or should he have left the 17 billion investment in a seaport for our Ogun State while he’s busy taking pictures?” Showunmi asked.
The State House recently said Tinubu witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Ogun State Government and DP World on a proposed Gateway Deep Seaport and Blue Marine Economic Zone in Ogun Waterside, with the company planning a $7bn investment in the project.
Showunmi also questioned the practical benefits of previous Nigerian 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?
“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,” he said.
The Presidency had earlier said Tinubu undertook a working vacation in Europe from August 30 and maintained contact with officials in Nigeria while away. The State House said he returned to Nigeria at the end of September after spending time in London and Paris.
Showunmi urged Nigerians to disregard what he described as politically motivated negative reports about the President.
“Never listen to the ideas of naysayers. Never listen to the ideas of people who hate themselves and only laugh at mischief and at bad news,” he said.
He also accused some presidential contenders of being unwilling to acknowledge positive developments under Tinubu.
Showunmi has publicly backed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, arguing that the country needs policy continuity to allow the administration’s economic programmes to take effect.
