Why Tinubu deserves a second term — Ex-South-East lawmaker

A former member of the House of Representatives, Sam Onuigbo, has urged members and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress to intensify efforts towards securing the re-election of President Bola Tinubu for a second term.

Onuigbo, who is the President of Globe Legislators International, made the call 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, particularly because of what he described as the “bold and courageous reforms” introduced by the Tinubu administration under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He said Tinubu deserved the support of APC members and Nigerians because a second term would enable him to consolidate the foundation laid by his administration.

“The stakes are now higher than when many of them joined the APC, particularly in view of what he described as the bold and courageous reforms initiated by the Tinubu administration under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“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.

According to Onuigbo, Tinubu had, as a presidential candidate, 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 recalled that Tinubu ended the fuel subsidy on May 29, 2023, the day he was inaugurated as President, despite criticism from the opposition.

Onuigbo said the reforms had significantly altered the country’s fiscal and economic landscape, particularly with the increase in funds shared by the three tiers of government through the Federation Account Allocation Committee.

He said, “Federation Account Allocation Committee funds distributed to the three tiers increased from N711 billion in 2023 to N4.5 trillion in 2026.”

The former lawmaker added that state governors were now receiving about five times more from FAAC than they received under previous administrations, arguing that the increased revenue had supported development across local government areas in Abia State and other parts of the country.

He also cited developments in the petroleum sector, claiming that Nigeria’s refining capacity had risen from 30,000 barrels per day in 2023 to more than 700,000 barrels per day in 2026.

Onuigbo further said crude oil production 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.

He said the country’s foreign reserves had also increased from $3.99bn in 2023 to $51.9bn in 2026, while more than N300bn had been invested in the students’ NELFUND scheme.

The APC chieftain also attributed more than $50bn in foreign direct investment to Tinubu’s foreign engagements, with $20bn attracted in 2026 alone.

According to him, the removal of the parallel exchange rate system helped eliminate a major obstacle to foreign investment.

He said the resultant stability in the economy and exchange rate had boosted investor confidence and attracted international commendation for the administration.

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 figures from the National Bureau of Statistics.

He said the growth was particularly significant because it was largely driven by the non-oil sector, including fintech, agriculture and solid minerals, which he described as evidence of the administration’s economic diversification policies.

The former lawmaker also cited what he described as Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive governance in the South-East.

He pointed to the appointment of two service chiefs from the region, noting that Vice Admiral Ogalla was the first under the present administration, while the current service chief is Air Vice Marshal Aneke.

He also listed the establishment of the South-East Development Commission, the creation of new tertiary institutions in the region, 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 said the Federal Government’s approval for South-East governors to take over the reconstruction of some federal roads, with subsequent reimbursement, would also accelerate infrastructure development in the region.

He expressed particular appreciation to Tinubu for restoring delisted management courses at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture after eight years of uncertainty.

According to him, the decision had opened up opportunities for students, protected existing jobs and created additional employment opportunities in Ikwuano Local Government Area and the wider South-East.

He also 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 commenced 35 years after the creation of Abia State.

“I facilitated both of these projects to the glory of God,” he said.

Onuigbo said the administration was also reconstructing major federal roads and making progress in repositioning Nigeria within the global economy.

Although he acknowledged that Nigeria remained a “work-in-progress,” he maintained that Tinubu had “done remarkably well” and deserved another term to complete the reforms and programmes already initiated.

He therefore urged APC members and stakeholders to prepare for the campaign, describing them as partners in the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The former lawmaker also cautioned party stakeholders against allowing personal political ambitions to undermine the broader objective 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.