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A member of the Media and Strategic Communications Directorate of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC-PCC), Otunba Segun Showunmi, has called on Nigerians to queue behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to renew his mandate during the January 16 presidential elections.
Otunba Showunmi, Coordinator of The Alternative and Ogun State Chief of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was recently appointed as a member of the Media and Strategic Communication Directorate of the APC-PCC, for his confidence in President Tinubu’s ability to sustain the course of current economic reforms, national stability and prosperity for all citizens.
He said: “I firmly believe that Nigeria is on the threshold of a remarkable transformation. I believe that the foundation has been laid for a more prosperous, stable and productive nation. I believe that the best of what our country can become is still ahead of us… at this crucial moment in our national journey, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu deserves the full support of Nigerians as we prepare for the next phase of our country’s development.”
Speaking at a meeting with senior editors in Abuja, Thursday, titled “Nigeria must not abandon its journey to prosperity: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the promise of a Greater Nigeria, national stability and prosperity for all”,
Showunmi said there are moments in the life of a nation when history calls on its people to overcome the distractions of the present, embrace the possibilities of the future and unite around a vision that promises a better life for all, cautioning against dancing to the beat of the opposition’s war drums.
“Nigeria must not abandon its path to prosperity. We must sustain the momentum, consolidate our gains and work together to ensure that the promise of a greater Nigeria reaches every family, every community and every corner of our federation.
“My support for President Tinubu is rooted in my belief that the Nigerian project is bigger than any individual, political party or election. It is about the future of our children, the dignity of our citizens, the strength of our institutions, the productivity of our economy and our place among the world’s leading nations,” he said.
According to him, the 2027 presidential election offers Nigerians an opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to the future of the nation.
He said “it is an opportunity to support the work of national renewal, strengthen our economic foundations and accelerate our march to prosperity.”
…Why re-elect Tinubu?
The Deputy Spokesperson of the APC-PCC Media Directorate noted that, for too long, the nation’s enormous potential has been limited by structural economic challenges, inadequate infrastructure, limited productivity and an economy that has yet to fully translate our human and natural resources into shared prosperity, with successive administrations afraid to dare remove oil subsidy.
He said President Tinubu began his administration with economic reforms designed to reposition the country, correct long-standing distortions, strengthen public finances and create the foundation for sustainable growth.
“These reforms represent an important chapter in Nigeria’s development journey. Their greatest promise lies in what they can enable: a stronger productive economy, greater investment, greater business confidence, better infrastructure, greater job opportunities and a government with greater capacity to serve its citizens.
“We are not simply trying to manage an economy: we are building the foundations of a nation that can compete, produce, innovate and prosper.
“The importance of this moment is that Nigeria has the opportunity to build on the reforms and initiatives already underway, deepen their impact and translate them into greater prosperity for millions of people.
“I believe that continuity under the Tinubu presidency offers the opportunity to consolidate this national project and move more quickly towards the Nigeria we all desire.
“We need to think beyond the immediate political season. We need to think about the Nigeria of 2030, 2040 and beyond. We need to consider the industries we want to build, the infrastructure we want to complete, the skills our youth need to acquire, the opportunities we want our businesses to enjoy and the quality of life we want every Nigerian family to experience,” he said.
…From reforms to prosperity
Otunba Showunmi said “the ultimate aim of economic reform is to unlock the productive potential of a nation, insisting that Nigeria must become a country that produces more, produces more, processes more, exports more and creates more value from its abundant resources.
“We must move beyond excessive dependence on crude oil and develop a diversified economy driven by manufacturing, agriculture, agro-processing, technology, solid minerals, petrochemicals, gas, tourism, logistics and modern services.
“We must build an environment where local entrepreneurs can expand, international investors can create productive businesses, small businesses can grow into larger companies, and young Nigerians can turn their ideas into successful ventures.”
…Highlights
Showunmi commended President Tinubu’s administration for providing the opportunity to appreciate the range of initiatives pursued in education, electricity, infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, taxation, security, housing, business development and public administration since it began in May 2023.
He said: “Taken together, these areas reflect the breadth of the national development challenge and the importance of building a modern economy on several interconnected foundations.
“In the education sector, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) is creating an additional pathway for eligible students to finance tertiary education. This is an important contribution to the ambition of expanding educational opportunities and ensuring that financial circumstances do not become an insurmountable barrier to learning.
“Our young people are our greatest strategic asset. We must equip them with knowledge, technical skills, digital capabilities and entrepreneurial confidence to compete in a rapidly changing world.
“In the electricity sector, the Electricity Act 2023 has opened up the opportunity for States to develop their electricity markets within the applicable legal framework, creating space for greater innovation, investment and responsive energy solutions at the local level.
“A more reliable power supply can transform small businesses, manufacturing, healthcare, education and home productivity.”
‘…Seat of the President of the Senate, others not vacant’
In a related development, fireworks among contenders for leadership positions in the 11th Senate, within and outside the current 10th Senate, ignited in plenary on Thursday when serving senators vowed to return Godswill Akpabio and Barau Jibrin as Senate President and Vice President unopposed.
Furthermore, through the affirmation of voice vote, they have decided to return all current principal officials who win the January 16, 2027 National Assembly elections to their various seats such as Senate Leader currently occupied by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central), Senate Whip, currently occupied by Senator Tahir Monguno (Borno North) and Deputy Whip currently occupied by Peter Nwaebonyi (Ebonyi North).
Others agreed to be returned unopposed if they emerged victorious in the January 16, 2027 National Assembly elections, they are the Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (Benue South), the Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Oyewumi Olalere (Osun West) and the Minority Whip, Senator Tony Nwoye (Anambra North).
This was following a motion moved to this effect by the Senate President and seconded by Senator Cyril Fasuyi (Ekiti North).
Monguno made the motion based on the argument put forward by Akpabio that based on the reality on the ground, the positions of President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are beyond the reach of any new contender, forcing them to keep an eye on the position of the Senate Presidency through negative media reports against him.
He specifically said that because of 2027, political detractors twisted what he said in the Senate plenary on Tuesday to cast it against the Muslim community in Nigeria, during the debate on the motion to decriminalize attempted suicide.
“Terrorists are human beings who believe in taking their own lives and the lives of others.
Many states of this federation are not interested in suicide attacks, but there are some people who, under the influence of drugs or for pecuniary reasons, undertake suicide attacks; those do not belong to any religion.
“The Muslim religion that I know forbids suicide; it forbids killing. The Muslim religion that I know doesn’t even allow someone to take their own life and if you look at the Quran, the Quran not only forbids suicide; it also says that if you commit suicide, you will not enter heaven.
“So if we say if you kill you have 14 or seven or 70 virgins waiting for you in heaven, you can’t even get into heaven if you commit suicide.
“So, people who misinterpret what we discuss here should stop doing so.
“I know this is a politically charged time, I don’t like the idea of people sitting on television and trying to misinterpret what we discuss here in the Senate.
“I know the position of president is gone. The position of vice president is gone. The only one left now is the position of president of the Senate which everyone wants to contest and has started mobilizing,” he said.
With spontaneous support, the Senate Chief Whip quickly rose to assure Akpabio that after emerging victorious in the January 16, 2027 National Assembly elections, he would be returned unopposed as President of the 11th Senate.
“Insha Allah, by the grace of God, most of us will return to the Senate and this post of the President of the Senate is declared non-vacant, including that of the Vice President of the Senate and, in fact, those of all the principal functionaries who have secured party tickets for the January 2027 elections,” he said.
And in a swift response, Senator Cyril Fasuyi (Ekiti North), seconded the idea, on which Akpabio put it to a voice vote and got an affirmative response from all senators present.
However, when asked to react to the Senate’s spontaneous action after the plenary, Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South), said: “I was not present in the House when the said resolution was taken.”
