A member of the House of Representatives representing Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency, Edo State, Peter Akpatason, has acknowledged that President Bola Tinubu faces challenges in his bid for a second term, citing the hardship associated with some of the administration’s economic reforms.
Akpatason, a member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and former president of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, said the pains caused by the policies should not overshadow what he described as the President’s courage in confronting the country’s economic challenges.
Speaking at Working People United event in Abuja on Tuesday, the lawmaker urged Nigerians, particularly workers, market women and other groups, to continue supporting Tinubu’s administration ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Akpatason said the President’s decision to implement difficult policies was necessary to address longstanding economic problems, despite the immediate hardship experienced by Nigerians.
He noted that some leaders might have avoided such reforms to escape criticism, but argued that postponing them would only worsen the country’s problems.
“A lot of people will run away from such policies, from such programmes in their first step, so that nobody will challenge,” he said.
“What that would have meant is that you keep postponing the evil day, and you keep multiplying the pains and agony of the people, but he had the courage to do it at the right time.”
The former NUPENG president acknowledged that Tinubu’s second-term ambition would face opposition, describing such challenges as normal in political leadership.
“I do think there are challenges facing the President regarding second term. I mean, if there are no challenges, that means that we are no longer in Africa. We are in this world. We are living beings. We are human beings. There are challenges every time,” he said.
However, he expressed confidence in the President’s ability to overcome the difficulties, insisting that the country was approaching a period when Nigerians could begin to benefit from the reforms.
“We are at the verge of overcoming all of that,” Akpatason said, warning that abandoning the reform agenda at this stage could have negative consequences for the country.
He urged his fellow labour leaders and supporters to mobilise Nigerians in favour of Tinubu’s re-election, arguing that continuity would help sustain the administration’s economic policies.
“So I will encourage my comrades at all levels to come together and support Mr President for second term. That is the only way that Nigeria can move forward at this point in time,” he said.
Akpatason added that Nigerians should recognise the President’s willingness to confront difficult national issues and give his administration the necessary support to address the country’s economic and social challenges.
2027: Tinubu facing second term challenges due to reforms other leaders ignored — Akpatason