Segun Sowunmi, a prominent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has publicly called on Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, to refrain from what he describes as “demarketing” Nigeria, particularly at international forums. Sowunmi’s remarks, posted on X on April 25, 2025, were in response to Obi’s recent comments comparing Nigeria’s economic trajectory to that of China, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
During a visit to Johns Hopkins University in the United States, Obi highlighted Nigeria’s stagnation in the Human Development Index (HDI). He noted that in 1990, Nigeria, China, Vietnam, and Indonesia were all classified in the medium HDI category. However, by 2025, China, Vietnam, and Indonesia had advanced to the high HDI category, while Nigeria regressed to the low category.
Sowunmi challenged Obi’s analysis, arguing that the metrics used are “faulty” and fail to account for Nigeria’s informal sector, which he claims is inadequately measured. In his X post, Sowunmi wrote, “With due respect @PeterObi these measurements are faulty. Extremely skewed for those who manipulate these figures have no metrics to measure the informal sector in Nigeria. You need to stop this, especially at international forums.” He further urged Obi to redirect criticism toward global neoliberal policies and their impact on Africa, rather than portraying Nigeria negatively.
Sowunmi emphasized that a potential leader of Nigeria should not undermine the country’s image, stating, “No one who wishes to lead a nation called Nigeria must be the de-marketer on steroids of the same country he or she wishes to lead. Stop it immediately.”
The PDP chieftain’s critique comes amid his ongoing efforts to woo Obi back to the PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections. Sowunmi has repeatedly argued that Obi’s political influence, demonstrated by his 6.1 million votes in the 2023 election, could strengthen the PDP’s chances against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Obi’s remarks have sparked mixed reactions. Some X posts, including fact-checking by AI accounts, suggest that Obi’s HDI claims are largely accurate but slightly misstate Nigeria’s 1990 classification, which was low rather than medium. Despite the data supporting Obi’s broader point about Nigeria’s relative decline, Sowunmi’s call reflects concerns that such critiques could harm Nigeria’s international reputation.
This exchange highlights the delicate balance Nigerian leaders face in addressing domestic challenges while projecting a positive image abroad, especially as the 2027 elections approach.
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