Why I Support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

By Okoi Obono-Obla 

Why I Support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-

Someone on Facebook asked me a thoughtful and engaging question—exactly the kind of inquiry that motivates me to post topical national issues on my page. Unfortunately, some others turned it into an avenue for personal attacks and petty distractions meant to divert attention from the main issue. The question was: Are you supporting President Tinubu for the sake of support, or what?

I support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu because he has demonstrated that he is a savvy, bold, courageous, and audacious leader. On the day of his inauguration, 29 May 2023, without minding the political consequences and backlash, he withdrew subsidies on petroleum products and floated the national currency, the Naira. These were far‑reaching economic decisions that successive governments, though aware of their transformative potential, lacked the courage to take for fear of public outrage. While these decisions have led to difficulties, history shows that every country that has developed and progressed has done so by embracing hard choices. That is the hallmark of great leadership, and President Tinubu has shown he possesses such sterling qualities.

In addition, he immediately launched the Student Loan Scheme, enabling students from poor families to access tertiary education—one of the most powerful tools to break free from poverty, ignorance, and backwardness. He has also embarked on some of the most ambitious infrastructural projects in Nigeria’s history since 1973. The Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway and the Lagos–Badagry–Sokoto Highway are prime examples, with immense potential to transform the nation.

For the first time in 133 years, he introduced a Tax Reform with the capacity to reshape Nigeria’s fiscal trajectory and economic development. He has also, for the first time in Nigeria, introduced the credit card system, making funds accessible to millions of Nigerians to meet their everyday needs—even those who may not traditionally be considered creditworthy.

Other achievements under his Renewed Hope Agenda include:

– Expanded cash transfers reaching 15 million vulnerable households, lifting an estimated 7.5 million Nigerians out of poverty.
– The Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano Gas Pipeline, which has generated more than 600,000 jobs nationwide.
– Improved workers’ welfare through a new national minimum wage, clearance of pension arrears, and reintroduction of gratuity payments from January 2026.
– The launch of the Community Protection Guards Initiative, recruiting 45,000 young Nigerians to strengthen community security while creating employment opportunities.

President Tinubu’s policies have won international acclaim, and Nigeria is now regaining its previous international reckoning, prestige, and respect. In just a little over three years, he has made great strides, including increasing the country’s foreign reserves from $35 billion in 2023, when he assumed office, to over $50 billion.

President Tinubu may not yet have succeeded in wiping away hunger, poverty, or solving all the monumental challenges confronting the nation, but he has laid down excellent policies which, if faithfully implemented, will mature and usher in prosperity.

Conclusion:
Leadership is not about playing safe; it is about making bold decisions that secure the future of a nation. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has shown courage, vision, and commitment to reforms that inspire my support. His trajectory of governance is laying the foundation for Nigeria’s transformation, and I believe history will judge him as a leader who dared to act when others hesitated.