Sowunmi Slams Atiku for ‘Emir Complex,’ Claims Disconnect from Nigerian Struggles

Segun Sowunmi, a key figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, has leveled serious accusations against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, suggesting that he suffers from an “Emir complex” that alienates him from the everyday struggles of Nigerians.

Sowunmi made these remarks during an interview on Vanguard’s Politics Hub, discussing President Bola Tinubu’s re-election prospects for 2027.

Sowunmi questioned the credibility of opposition figures, including Atiku and ex-Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, to advocate for the poor, given their lengthy careers in government.

How can someone who has spent the last 24 years in power suddenly be the voice against poverty? he challenged, referring to Amaechi’s political history.

He pointed out Atiku’s extensive tenure as vice president from 1999 to 2007, arguing that it hampers his ability to empathize with the plight of ordinary Nigerians.

“Atiku’s lifestyle makes it hard for him to connect with those struggling to make ends meet,” Sowunmi contended.

Defining the “Emir complex,” he described it as a mentality of privilege, where powerful figures are used to being treated with reverence.

“You see Atiku moving around in a convoy unlike any former vice president. He epitomizes this complex,” he said.

Sowunmi further asserted that Atiku lacks the qualifications to position himself as a champion for the poor, stating, “He has no capacity to know or empathize with the poor. He is not a patron deity of the poor.

The APC member maintained that criticisms directed at Tinubu’s administration should be weighed against the records of those voicing them.

“The opposition should be evaluated based on their own tenures in office,” he emphasized.As the political landscape heats up for the 2027 elections, Sowunmi’s comments reflect a broader narrative questioning the authenticity of opposition leaders.

With various governors endorsing Tinubu’s re-election, the stakes are increasingly high.Sowunmi’s critique underscores the growing divide between the ruling party and its opponents, raising important questions about who genuinely represents the interests of ordinary Nigerians in the forthcoming election.