A 2023 interview with actor and politician Kenneth Okonkwo has come back online. This has stirred up new reactions after he was named spokesperson for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for the 2027 presidential election.
In the popular Channels Television interview, Okonkwo, who was then a spokesperson for the Labour Party's presidential campaign, made strong comments about Atiku. He spoke on allegations about consultancy payments and special purpose vehicles.
During the interview, Okonkwo said, “Atiku has confessed that he used special purpose vehicles to create phoney companies for which he paid consultancy fees, and from which the consultancy fees were paid back to him.
“He said it openly. His voice is there.
“Buhari is supposed to send him to jail.
“The two people that deserve prison, I don’t know what they are looking for in the presidency,” Okonkwo added.
He also slammed Atiku's response to accusations about the Achimugu issue. Okonkwo said, “Nobody has sued him for defamation, libel or slander.
“These are issues that the candidates themselves and their parties have controversially said do not exist.
“Atiku was asked about the issue of Achimugu by the BBC. You know what he said? ‘We’ve passed over that.’ He offered no defence.”
The old clip came out just weeks after PUNCH Online reported that Atiku appointed Okonkwo as his official spokesperson for the upcoming presidential election.
On his X page, Okonkwo expressed gratitude to the former vice president for trusting him with the role.
“I give God all the glory to be appointed by His Excellency Atiku Abubakar as his spokesperson.
“I thank HE AA for the immense confidence reposed in me,” he wrote.
He called the appointment proof of Atiku’s leadership style. Okonkwo said the former vice president prefers to talk things out instead of holding grudges when disagreements happen.
“Rather than pick offence against any of his associates for expressing genuine reservations over any action taken, HE AA always opts for dialogue and compromise that will engender solutions to problems,” Okonkwo stated.
He also mentioned that in meetings with Atiku and leaders of the African Democratic Congress, they talked about and addressed the interests of the South-East. This happened despite the challenges posed by the Electoral Act of 2026.
The appointment followed weeks of disagreement after Okonkwo openly criticized the ADC for choosing former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as Atiku’s running mate. He felt this decision further pushed aside the South-East from holding either the presidency or vice presidency since 1999.
The resurfaced interview has caused a buzz on social media. Many people are comparing Okonkwo’s past criticisms of Atiku with his new position as the former vice president’s spokesperson.
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