Olisa Metuh, a former spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has confirmed Reno Omokri’s claim that he was the one who brought Segun Showunmi on board as spokesperson to ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Speaking to journalists by phone, Metuh validated Omokri’s statement.
He explained, “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 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.”
Metuh added that there has never been any dispute regarding the choice or announcement of Showunmi for the role. In his words, “There is absolutely no controversy about that.”
Before ending the call, he said, “I don’t think they are (Reno and Segun) still in PDP anymore and so, there is no controversy about that.”
Earlier, Reno Omokri, who previously served as media aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, spoke on The Honest Bunch podcast. He responded to a claim that his name became widely known only after working for Atiku Abubakar.
He explained that he had already hired Segun and other team members for Atiku’s campaign.
On his Facebook page, he wrote: “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.
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“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.”