A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Professor Anthony Agbazuere, has expressed confidence that the South-East will support President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting of APC members from the old Aba political bloc in Ikem Nvosi, Isialangwa Local Government Area, Agbazuere urged potential presidential aspirants to drop their ambitions and allow Tinubu to complete his programs for the nation.
He argued that the president’s policies have brought stability to the economy and renewed hope among Nigerians. According to him, the removal of fuel subsidy has opened up significant resources for development, enabling state governors and local government chairmen to deliver more effectively.
Agbazuere also highlighted the establishment of the South-East Development Commission as a landmark initiative, saying it demonstrates Tinubu’s commitment to rebuilding the region and has further endeared him to the people of the zone.
He said …
“As members of the APC, we are very happy that we have a president who is working very hard, who is exceptional as a leader. President Bola Tinubu is a special species of man. Only those who have little IQ will dispute that.
“President Tinubu came in as president of Nigeria when the former government was printing money to survive. What they call wages and means. They were printing money to survive. And that meant keeping our children and grandchildren in a state of indebtedness for life. Pushing our troubles and our problems forward for our children and grandchildren. President Bola Tinubu came in and said no.
“Living a false life. For how long shall that be? That a lot of people were making so much money from the fuel subsidy. Because at that time, people would buy fuel from Nigeria and go and sell the same fuel to countries outside Nigeria at the boundaries of Nigeria and make billions of Naira.
“Nigeria was subsidising not just for Nigerians alone, but for other countries around Nigeria. And that meant it was wrong. And President Tinubu said no.
“He now had to remove the fuel subsidy and all the quantum of funds coming from there. He started pushing those funds, those monies, back to the people through the state governments and local governments. And that’s why he’s saying that we should go to state governments to account for these monies.”
Agbazuere further commended President Tinubu for championing local government autonomy but criticized state governors for allegedly obstructing the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment upholding the policy.
“And this is the only government too that came on board and saw the need for local governments to be autonomous. The federal government of Nigeria, under President Tinubu, had to file a suit at the Supreme Court.
“And the Supreme Court delivered a judgment that funds meant for local governments should be given to them directly. Even up to now, the states are still disobeying.”
On education, Agbazuere praised President Tinubu for initiating the student loan scheme, which he said would enable children from poor backgrounds to complete their university studies.
“This is the same government and the only government that has come up to say, look, children of poor parents, you must not be chased away from universities.
“I am introducing student loans for you to pay your school fees. And you can only pay back when you start working at your convenience, and of course, gradually. But to make sure you complete your school education, your university education, we must support you as a government,” he added.
The APC chieftain added that President Tinubu has reformed the tax system in a way that exempts low-income earners from paying taxes in Nigeria.
“Today, if you’re not working in Nigeria, you won’t pay tax. Who has ever done this before? If not Tinubu, so why must we not support such a person that says that the rich who get so much money should be paying their tax.
“Those who have not gotten enough as salary should not pay tax. Where does this ever happen? Is it not Nigeria? Is it not Tinubu? That’s what we are saying. Such a person should be allowed to exhaust his program of action.
“President Tinubu is focused. He is visionary. And that’s what people like us at my level as a professor of laws, I say, look, allow this man. Those who think they have other ideas should wait after his tenure of eight years. They can come and let us all see what they have,” he said.