A member of the media and strategic communications committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Obafemi George, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s resolution not to go to all 36 states throughout his re-election campaign, saying the president will prioritise governance whereas the occasion mobilises assist for his second time period.
Mr George mentioned the president had assessed the nation’s electoral map and determined that sustaining the features of his administration was extra vital than embarking on a nationwide campaign tour.
He spoke on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme on Thursday, amid preparations by the APC for the 2027 presidential election.
“The president has looked at the electoral map of the country and decided that what is more important at this time is to sustain the gains for Nigerians,” he mentioned.
Mr George argued that there was no constitutional requirement for a presidential candidate to go to each state throughout an election campaign.
He mentioned Mr Tinubu would proceed to advertise his administration’s insurance policies whereas guaranteeing that authorities enterprise did not endure throughout the campaign interval.
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Tinubu’s financial reforms
Mr George additionally defended the president’s financial insurance policies, arguing that the reforms had restored investor confidence and created alternatives for financial development, regardless of the hardship skilled by Nigerians.
He mentioned traders had been leaving Nigeria earlier than Mr Tinubu assumed workplace in May 2023 due to inflation, macroeconomic instability and difficulties accessing overseas change.
According to him, some worldwide corporations and monetary establishments, together with JPMorgan Chase and Shell, have since proven renewed curiosity in Nigeria due to the nation’s financial outlook.
“They are coming to Nigeria to invest because of the growth trajectory,” he mentioned.
Mr George cited the removing of petrol subsidy as one of many administration’s main financial choices, noting that Nigeria had beforehand spent greater than 90 per cent of its income on subsidy funds.
He additionally criticised opposition politicians who’ve promised to reverse a few of the administration’s insurance policies, saying all presidential candidates in 2023 had supported subsidy removing.
He argued that financial restructuring typically comes with short-term hardship and mentioned the administration’s reforms have been meant to deal with longstanding structural issues.
Mr George maintained that financial indicators cited by establishments such because the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund supported the administration’s place that the financial system was transferring in the direction of restoration.
NELFUND, healthcare reforms
Mr George additionally highlighted social intervention programmes launched beneath Mr Tinubu, significantly the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which supplies monetary assist to eligible college students in tertiary establishments.
He mentioned the scheme had expanded entry to increased training for college students who may in any other case battle to pay their charges.
The official famous that the administration had additionally launched healthcare interventions to assist indigent ladies, together with funding for medical procedures.
He additional cited reforms meant to enhance entry to dialysis remedy, arguing that the measures would assist individuals who beforehand struggled to afford the process.
Mr George mentioned beneficiaries of those programmes and different authorities interventions would assist talk the administration’s achievements to voters forward of the 2027 election.
READ ALSO: 2027: Why Nigerians should re-elect Tinubu – Campaign Spokesperson
Why governors are backing Tinubu
Mr George additionally rejected solutions that the backing of 33 state governors for Mr Tinubu was pushed solely by the benefits of incumbency.
He argued that the governors have been supporting the president as a result of that they had benefited from the administration’s financial insurance policies, which he mentioned had elevated the sources accessible to state and native governments.
“They are supporting the president because they are performing at the sub-national level, and that performance is only possible because of the macroeconomic policy at the centre. Allocation has tripled,” he mentioned.
“That is why a local government can now build roads.”
Mr George mentioned the administration would give attention to consolidating its reforms moderately than reversing key insurance policies forward of the election.
He dominated out a return to pre-2023 gas costs or overseas change preparations inside 90 days, arguing that financial transformation may not occur in a single day.
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