Former presidential spokesperson Segun Showunmi has denied claims made by Reno Omokri that he was responsible for hiring him as the media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar during the 2019 presidential campaign.
The allegation surfaced during the June 23, 2025 episode of The Honest Bunch podcast, where Omokri stated, “Atiku wanted me to be his spokesperson.
I declined, saying I wouldn’t be a spokesperson for a sitting president and then for a candidate.
But I hired his media team, including Segun Showunmi; I interviewed him and set his salary.”
Reacting on Monday night via X (formerly Twitter), Showunmi strongly dismissed the claim. In response to a post by user Imran Muhammad, he wrote:
“It would be a waste of saliva responding to this rubbish. Amina Jambo, my friend, got Lulu Obaifo to convince me to visit Waziri [Atiku].
I asked my questions, visited Uyi Giwa Osagie, who then got a call from OGD [Otunba Gbenga Daniel] while in Dubai.
I later went to Abuja, reached an agreement with Atiku, met with Dane Waters and Eta Uso, and also with Yemi Hilda.”
He added, “This younger man is delusional. I first saw him at a Defence of London advert event in Dubai. Believe Reno if you want.
All he does is talk nonsense. Ask him what the actual terms were and the role of Atiku’s then-Chief of Staff from Maiduguri. Hire ko, hire ni!”
Showunmi further accused Omokri of inconsistency and insincerity, referencing past controversies.
“That was how he kept shouting about drugs and the president—only to pretend later like he never said a word. It’s only those who don’t know Reno that still take him seriously.”
PUNCH Online reports that the full podcast episode lasts over an hour, with Omokri discussing various topics including how Pat Utomi helped him earn his first million dollars, his political ties with Atiku and Jonathan, and his current support for President Bola Tinubu.