Not Re-electing Tinubu Will Undermine Nigeria’s Economic Progress, Says Onuigbo

Sam Onuigbo, head of the Strategic Mobilisation Network for Tinubu's Continuity 2027, has warned that failing to re-elect President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the upcoming elections would threaten Nigeria's economic advancements. At a conference in Umuahia, Abia State, Onuigbo presented a speech titled "The Case for Continuity, Consolidation and Prosperity," emphasizing the necessity of maintaining the strong progress achieved under Tinubu's leadership.

He explained that the network was formed in response to a strategic meeting held on August 28, 2026, aimed at rallying ordinary Nigerians to support Tinubu's re-election. The SMN TC2027's mission is to sustain reforms that have produced tangible results, strengthen existing successes, complete unfinished projects, and convert them into prosperity.

Onuigbo highlighted that Tinubu inherited several challenges when he took office, such as high inflation, significant foreign exchange issues, and unsustainable fuel subsidies. Despite these obstacles, the president made tough decisions like removing subsidies and restructuring foreign exchange, leading to significant improvements.

He pointed out that headline inflation has dropped from a peak of 36.4% to 14.63% as of September 2026, and GDP growth has increased from 3.38% in 2024 to 3.87% in 2025 and 4.43% in the second quarter of 2026. Foreign reserves have grown from $3.9 billion in 2023 to approximately $55 billion in October 2026. Additionally, there have been advancements in the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, infrastructure projects like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, and increased attention to security measures, including the proposed State Police framework.

Onuigbo urged the network's members to focus their campaign on continuity by linking policies to the daily lives of the people. He suggested connecting policies to issues such as education loans for students, credit opportunities for traders, infrastructure development for community leaders, and security concerns. Members were advised to present their campaign in a way that builds confidence by acknowledging ongoing challenges, listening respectfully, providing accurate information, and avoiding derogatory or unsubstantiated claims.

Onuigbo stressed that social media alone is insufficient for reaching people; instead, physical engagement in communities, markets, educational institutions, and professional organizations is crucial. He stressed that the network's success lies in building relationships, effectively communicating, gaining public trust, and translating that trust into electoral support.

Onuigbo emphasized that continuity is not merely about retaining power but about sustaining good policies until Nigerians experience prosperity.