2027 Atiku Suffering From ‘Emir Complex’, Says Segun Sowunmi

2027 Atiku Suffering from ‘Emir Complex’, Says Segun Sowunmi

A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Segun Sowunmi, has accused former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of being disconnected from the realities of ordinary Nigerians, describing him as suffering from what he called an “Emir complex”. Sowunmi made the remarks during an interview on Vanguard’s Politics Hub while discussing President Bola Tinubu’s chances of securing re-election in 2027 and the opposition’s criticism of his administration. He questioned the ability of Atiku and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi to speak credibly for Nigerians battling poverty, citing their long years in public office. The APC campaign council member argued that Atiku’s lifestyle and public demeanour reflected the privileges associated with his political status, making it difficult for him to understand the daily struggles of less privileged citizens. “Have you seen a vice-president that goes around the way Atiku is going around with convoy, in terms of his panache? Atiku is suffering from what you call an Emir complex,” Sowunmi said. He explained that the expression referred to a powerful individual accustomed to receiving deference and special treatment from people around him. Sowunmi further argued that Atiku’s experience as vice-president under former President Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007 did not necessarily qualify him to represent the interests of poor Nigerians. He declared that the former vice-president lacked the capacity to empathise with the poor, adding that he should not present himself as their principal advocate. The APC chieftain also criticised Amaechi, questioning his recent positioning as a voice against poverty after spending much of his political career in government. According to Sowunmi, opposition politicians should be prepared to defend their own records in public office rather than focus exclusively on criticising the Tinubu administration. His comments come as political parties and prominent politicians intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the performance of the economy, poverty and the cost of living expected to feature prominently in political campaigns. Atiku, a former presidential candidate and a leading opposition figure, has been among those challenging the Federal Government’s policies and calling for changes in the country’s economic and political direction. Sowunmi’s remarks underscore the increasingly confrontational political atmosphere ahead of the election, as supporters of Tinubu and opposition figures exchange criticism over leadership, governance and the welfare of Nigerians.