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Philip Agbese, a House of Representatives (HoR) member representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency in Benue State, has strongly defended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, insisting that the ongoing economic reforms are already yielding positive results for Nigeria.
In a direct response to the open letter written by former Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, Agbese dismissed the criticisms as baseless and accused the elder statesman of misjudging the realities of the current administration.
Agbese’s response, in a statement addressed to Bafarawa, refuted claims that President Tinubu was stifling opposition or shifting Nigeria towards authoritarianism. The lawmaker highlighted that the current administration’s commitment to inclusivity, demonstrated through a diverse cabinet and appointments, contradicted such assertions.
“I respect your decades of political experience and your service to Nigeria, and I acknowledge your right to express concerns about the current state of our dear country. However, as an elder statesman, your role ought to be one of guidance based on fairness and objectivity, rather than engaging in narratives that do not align with the realities on the ground,” Agbese said.
The Benue lawmaker emphasized that President Tinubu’s administration was addressing Nigeria’s economic and security crises that were left unresolved by previous governments. He pointed out that the challenges, which included a shattered economy and entrenched insecurity, required time and careful reforms. Agbese argued that the removal of the fuel subsidy—deemed a controversial decision by critics—was necessary for long-term economic stability, despite its immediate challenges. He urged Bafarawa to acknowledge these tough but necessary decisions, criticizing those who believed such reforms could have been undertaken earlier.
Refuting Bafarawa’s claims about the government’s alleged suppression of opposition voices, Agbese emphasized that President Tinubu’s leadership has, in fact, shown tolerance and inclusivity, much more than previous administrations. He explained that the Tinubu administration has demonstrated a clear commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions and protecting the rule of law, a stance that Bafarawa’s letter misrepresents.
“Insecurity that has plagued Nigeria, from terrorism in the North-East to banditry in the North-West and IPOB insurgency in the South-East, did not begin under President Tinubu. The previous administration, despite its best efforts, struggled to fully contain these threats. No sincere observer of Nigeria’s governance landscape would dispute that the country was in dire straits when President Tinubu took office,” he said.
Agbese also tackled Bafarawa’s assertion that the administration was stifling opposition, arguing that Tinubu had been more inclusive than his predecessors. According to him, the president has assembled a government based on merit rather than political affiliations.
“For the record, no Nigerian democratic President in history has demonstrated as much commitment to inclusivity as President Tinubu. This is evident in his carefully assembled cabinet; a diverse representation of the country, not just in terms of geography, but in professional expertise and competence,” he said.
On economic reforms, Agbese defended the removal of fuel subsidies and the restructuring of Nigeria’s financial system, stating that previous administrations had failed to make difficult but necessary decisions. He argued that Tinubu was correcting past economic mismanagement at great political risk.
“The removal of fuel subsidies, for instance, was not an easy decision, but it was a necessary one. The subsidy regime had become a black hole of corruption, benefiting only a few while draining national resources that could have been channeled into infrastructure, education, and healthcare,” he said.
He further dismissed Bafarawa’s claim that Tinubu was working towards a one-party state, describing it as “baseless” and a distortion of the president’s long history in opposition politics.
“The insinuation that he is now attempting to stifle the opposition is a contradiction that does not stand to reason. Tinubu himself rose to power through opposition politics. To suggest that he would now seek to undermine the very system he helped build is both ironic and unfounded,” Agbese said.
The lawmaker urged Bafarawa to adopt a more objective stance and contribute to national development instead of fueling division. He maintained that while Nigeria faced serious challenges, Tinubu’s leadership was steering the country towards recovery.
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