How Tinubu’s return ‘ll sustain Nigeria’s rise to prosperity, stability – Showunmi

A member of the Media and Strategic Communication 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 election.

Otunba Showunmi, convener of The Alternative, and Ogun state chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was recently named as a member of the media and strategic communication directorate of the APC-PCC, for his faith in the capacity of President Tinubu to sustain the course of the current economic reforms, national stability and prosperity for the entire citizens.

 He said: “I believe firmly that Nigeria is on the threshold of a remarkable transformation. I believe the foundation for a more prosperous, stable and productive nation is being laid. I believe the best of what our country can become is still ahead of us…at this defining 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 parley 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 upon its people to rise above the distractions of the present, embrace the possibilities of the future and unite around a vision that promises a better life for all, warning against dancing to the war drums of the opposition.

“Nigeria must not abandon its journey to prosperity. We must sustain the momentum, consolidate the gains and work together to ensure that the promise of a greater Nigeria reaches every household, every community and every corner of our federation.

“My support for President Tinubu is rooted in my conviction 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 leading nations of the world,” he said.

According to him, the 2027 presidential election presents Nigerians with an opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to the future of the nation.

He said “it is an opportunity to sustain the work of national renewal, strengthen our economic foundations and accelerate our march towards prosperity.”

 …Why re-elect Tinubu?

The deputy spokesman of the APC-PCC media directorate noted that, for too long, the nation’s enormous potentials were constrained by structural economic challenges, inadequate infrastructure, limited productivity and an economy that is yet to fully translate our human and natural resources into shared prosperity, with successive administrations afraid to dare to remove the petroleum subsidy.

He said President Tinubu began his administration with economic reforms designed to reposition the country, correct longstanding 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 make possible: a stronger productive economy, increased investment, greater business confidence, improved infrastructure, more employment 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 significance of this moment is that Nigeria has an opportunity to build upon the reforms and initiatives already underway, deepen their impact and translate them into greater prosperity for millions of people.

“I believe that continuity under President Tinubu offers an opportunity to consolidate this national project and move with greater speed towards the Nigeria we all desire.

“We must think beyond the immediate political season. We must think about the Nigeria of 2030, 2040 and beyond. We must consider the industries we want to build, the infrastructure we want to complete, the skills our young people must acquire, the opportunities we want our businesses to enjoy and the quality of life we want every Nigerian family to experience,” he said.

 …From reform to prosperity

Otunba Showunmi said “the ultimate purpose of economic reform is to unlock the productive potential of a nation, insisting that Nigeria must become a country that produces more, manufactures more, processes more, exports more and creates more value from its abundant resources.

“We must expand beyond an 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 in which local entrepreneurs can expand, international investors can establish productive enterprises, small businesses can grow into larger companies and young Nigerians can transform their ideas into successful ventures.”

 …Highpoints

Showunmi praised President Tinubu’s administration for offering the opportunity to appreciate the range of initiatives being pursued across education, electricity, infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, taxation, security, housing, business development and public administration since it took off 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 education, 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 opportunity 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 electricity, the Electricity Act 2023 has opened opportunities for states to develop their own electricity markets within the applicable legal framework. This creates room for greater innovation, investment and locally responsive energy solutions.

“A more dependable power supply can transform small businesses, manufacturing, healthcare, education and household productivity.”

 ‘…Senate President’s seat, others not vacant’

In a related development, fireworks among contenders for leadership positions in the 11th Senate in and outside the current 10th Senate, ignited plenary Thursday as serving senators vowed to return Godswill Akpabio and Barau Jibrin as President and Deputy President of the Senate unopposed.

They also,  through voice vote affirmation, resolved to return any of the current principal officials who  win  the January 16  2027 National Assembly election back to their various  seats  like 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 resolved to be returned unopposed if emerged victorious in the January 16, 2027 National Assembly Election, are the Minority  Leader, Senator Abba Moro (Benue South), Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Oyewumi Olalere (Osun West) and Minority Whip, Senator Tony Nwoye (Anambra North).

This was sequel to a motion moved to that effect by the whip of the Senate and seconded by Senator Cyril Fasuyi (Ekiti North).

Monguno moved the motion on the strength of submission made by Akpabio that based on realities on ground, the positions  of President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria  are beyond the reach of any new contender, making them eyeing the Senate Presidency position  through negative media reports against him.

He specifically said that because of 2027, political detractors twisted what he said Tuesday in the Senate at plenary to pitch him against the Muslim community in Nigeria,  during debate on motion to decriminalise suicide attempt.

 “Terrorists are human beings who believe in taking their lives and the lives of others.

Many states of this federation are not interested in suicide bombing, but there are some people that, out of drugs or out of pecuniary reasons, undertake suicide bombings; those ones do not belong to any religion. 

“The Muslim religion that I know forbids suicide; it forbids killing. The Muslim religion that I know does not even allow somebody to take his own life and if you look at the Quran, the Quran not only prohibits suicide; it also says that if you commit suicide, you will not enter into paradise.

 “So, if we are saying that if you kill that you have 14 or seven or 70 virgins waiting for you in paradise, you cannot even enter paradise if you commit suicide. 

 “So, people who are misinterpreting what we discuss here should stop doing that.

“I know this is a politically charged period. I don’t like the idea of people sitting down 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 that is left now is the position of senate president that everybody  wants to contest and have started mobilizing,” he said.

In a spontaneous support, the Senate Whip quickly rose to assure Akpabio that after emerging victorious in the January 16, 2027 National Assembly election, he would be returned unopposed as President of the 11th Senate. 

“Insha Allah, by the grace of God, majority of us are going to make it back to the Senate and this seat of the President of the Senate is hereby declared No Vacancy including that of the Deputy President of the Senate and in fact, those of the entire principal officers who secured party tickets for the January 2027 election,” he said.

And in a swift response, Senator Cyril Fasuyi (Ekiti north), seconded the notion, upon which Akpabio put it for voice vote and got responded to affirmatively by all senators in attendance.

However, when asked to react to the Senate’s spontaneous action after the plenary, Senator  Ali Ndume (Borno South), said “I was not in the chamber when the said resolution was taken.”