That former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is no longer news. What, however, seemed to have taken many by sheer surprise is not unconnected to his emergence when least expected, yet in a keenly contested primary where he stood shoulder to shoulder with other political juggernauts who jostled to clinch the major opposition party’s presidential ticket.
The factors responsible for Atiku’s victory could be said to have been made possible as a result of the network of committed individuals who constitute his campaign team coupled with his resoluteness at the apex seat of to country. Meanwhile, the place of marketing his image is such that has been vigorously executed by affable and ebullient public affair analyst, Mr. Segun Showunmi.
What many could seemingly decipher when trying to come to terms with what Atiku has to offer whenever he makes his intention known to run for presidency is a warped ambition with no clear cut vision whatsoever. Similarly is the believe that he was only being ambitious since he was a step away from being a president as a former Vice President to Olusegun Obasanjo.
Very much unlikely of the aforementioned is what turned out a different ball game when Segun Showunmi assumed the position of the Atiku Presidential Campaign spokesperson. Not only has he added finesse to the assignment, he has successfully made explicit the programmes and plans of his principal especially as it borders on restructuring and true federalism not only in its simplest form to discerning members of the public but also to those who care to have a basic knowledge of it.
It is a known fact that one of Atiku’s former media strategist and media spokesperson, Mr. Garba Shehu now pitches his tent with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as a media aide to president Muhammadu Buhari, the vacuum he created since he failed to defect with his former boss to PDP was such that apparently left many wondering how Atiku would make do with a budding expertise that will fill the big shoe he left behind having worked with him for over two decades.
But with Showunmi in the saddle, his unique approach to the task of projecting Atiku to the world since proved his mettle to deliver on the job. The result as evident in Atiku’s emergence leaves whatever vacuum in the capacity of the Turaki Adamawa’s spokesperson discountenanced.
Showunmi who was Special Assistant and Deputy Chief Press Secretary to the former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel had served in various political capacities including the Jonathan/Sambo Campaign in 2011.
He had also worked as Director of Organization of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State.
Atiku had overtime contested in presidential primaries both in APC and PDP without clinching the ticket on both party platforms. To say his successful attempt at a time like this is a coincidence with the choice of Segun Showunmi as his campaign spokesperson is as good as shying from the latter’s dexterity and worth when it comes to image making.
Segun Showunmi is not only armed with oratory skills as he is widely known for but also familiar with the basic principles of profile building through communication.
Deploying series of strategies tucked in a towering performance upon resuming office has removed the hemlock attached to his principal which often genrates negative narratives whenever he presents himself for the number one job. Such performance also gave him an edge among his contemporaries prior the primaries.
Such are the media engagements both online and Tv stations via the ‘Spokesman Atiku’ platform where he reels out the programmes of his principal to the admiration of the viewers. There is no doubting the fact that, beyond dissecting the plans and programmes of his boss, Segun Showunmi exudes an aura of conviction while conveying his message which, of course, relaxes the impression of an unrealistic kind of submission about Atiku.
It will be recalled that Segun Showunmi who has built a strong brand for himself as one of the finest image makers in Ogun state narrowly missed out on PDP’s National Publicity Secretary position due to zoning. It is however safe to note that his capacity as the spokesman of a presidential aspirant on the platform of the PDP will, without having to state the obvious, give the party a facelift in retaining its former position as a ruling party.
Needless to gainsay that the gear has changed and the stage set as Atiku is no longer an aspirant but a candidate. Ditto a thoroughbred spokesman in bringing a pragmatic approach to bear through his experience thus projecting his principal to victory come 2019.