Nigerian Eye
Why Tinubu Deserves a Second Term — Ex-South-East Lawmaker
A former member of the House of Representatives, Sam Onuigbo, has called on All Progressives Congress (APC) members and stakeholders to intensify efforts to secure President Bola Tinubu’s re-election for a second term.Onuigbo, who is President of Globe Legislators International, made the appeal during a stakeholders’ engagement to flag off the campaign for Tinubu’s re-election at his country home in Odozi Obodo Hills, Obuohia Obi-Ibere, Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State.In a statement he personally signed and released on Sunday, the former federal lawmaker said the stakes were now higher than when many party members joined the APC, especially in light of the “bold and courageous reforms” introduced by the Tinubu administration under the Renewed Hope Agenda.He argued that Tinubu deserved the support of APC members and Nigerians because a second term would allow him to consolidate the foundation already laid by his administration.“President Tinubu deserves the support of every genuine APC member and, indeed, every Nigerian, because he needed a second term to consolidate the foundation already laid by his administration,” the statement partly read.Onuigbo recalled that as a presidential candidate, Tinubu campaigned on policies aimed at ending the “criminal enterprise” of the parallel foreign exchange market, making Nigeria a preferred destination for foreign direct investment, ending fuel subsidies, diversifying the economy and promoting inclusive governance.He noted that Tinubu ended the fuel subsidy on May 29, 2023, the day he was inaugurated, despite opposition criticism. The reforms, he said, had significantly altered the country’s fiscal and economic landscape, particularly through increased funds shared by the three tiers of government via the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).“Federation Account Allocation Committee funds distributed to the three tiers increased from N711 billion in 2023 to N4.5 trillion in 2026,” he said. State governors, he added, were now receiving about five times more from FAAC than under previous administrations, supporting development across local government areas in Abia State and elsewhere.In the petroleum sector, Onuigbo claimed Nigeria’s refining capacity had risen from 30,000 barrels per day in 2023 to more than 700,000 barrels per day in 2026. Crude oil production, he said, had increased from about 1.3 million barrels per day in 2023 to more than 1.73 million barrels per day in 2026, exceeding Nigeria’s OPEC quota.Foreign reserves had grown from $3.99 billion in 2023 to $51.9 billion in 2026, while more than N300 billion had been invested in the students’ NELFUND scheme. He also attributed more than $50 billion in foreign direct investment to Tinubu’s foreign engagements, with $20 billion attracted in 2026 alone.The removal of the parallel exchange rate system, according to him, eliminated a major obstacle to foreign investment, boosting investor confidence and attracting international commendation.On economic growth, Onuigbo said Nigeria’s GDP had risen from 2.74 per cent in 2023 to 3.9 per cent in the first half of 2026, citing National Bureau of Statistics figures. He described the growth as significant because it was largely driven by the non-oil sector, including fintech, agriculture and solid minerals, as evidence of economic diversification.He also highlighted Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive governance in the South-East, pointing to the appointment of two service chiefs from the region (Vice Admiral Ogalla and the current Air Vice Marshal Aneke), the establishment of the South-East Development Commission, the creation of new tertiary institutions, the proposed rail connection from Enugu to Port Harcourt, approval and ongoing construction of Abia Airport, and the expansion of the Enugu and Owerri airports.Onuigbo further noted the Federal Government’s approval for South-East governors to take over the reconstruction of some federal roads with subsequent reimbursement, as well as the restoration of delisted management courses at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture after eight years of uncertainty. He described the ongoing construction of the Federal Secretariat at Ekeoba Ohuhu in Umuahia North Local Government Area as “the jewel in the crown,” noting that the project began 35 years after the creation of Abia State.Although he acknowledged that Nigeria remained a “work-in-progress,” Onuigbo maintained that Tinubu had “done remarkably well” and deserved another term to complete the reforms and programmes already initiated.He urged APC members and stakeholders to prepare for the campaign as partners in the Renewed Hope Agenda, while cautioning them against allowing personal political ambitions to undermine the broader goal of securing Tinubu’s re-election.“President Bola Tinubu’s second term should therefore mean more to every APC stakeholder than personal political progression,” Onuigbo said.
6 hours ago
