Enugu demonstrates impact of Tinubu’s reforms in South-East – Says TMS coordinator
The South-East Coordinator of the Tinubu Movement for Sustainable Governance Foundation (TMS), popularly known as Tinubu Must Stay, Prof. Chinedu Ochinanwata, has commended President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms and infrastructure interventions, The Nation Newspapers reported.
He said Enugu State’s transformation under Governor Peter Mbah demonstrated the benefits of increased federal allocations to state governments.
Ochinanwata also praised the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her efforts to promote the economic independence of Nigerian women, particularly through the distribution of business equipment and livelihood support to thousands of women across the South-East.
He spoke on the sidelines of the South-East presidential campaign flag-off organised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) Women’s Mobilisation Directorate at Okpara Square, Enugu.
The First Lady inaugurated an empowerment programme at the event, attended by governors, political leaders, and thousands of women from the five South-East states.
The programme featured the distribution of sewing machines, grinding machines, popcorn machines and 25-kilogramme bags of rice to beneficiaries.
The initiative, according to the organisers, aimed to promote entrepreneurship, economic independence and improved household welfare.
Ochinanwata, the Zonal Secretary for Stakeholders Mobilisation in the APC Presidential Campaign Council and Director of Research and Strategy in the Enugu APC Campaign Council, described the initiative as a practical demonstration of the Tinubu administration’s commitment to people’s welfare.
The TMS coordinator said the First Lady’s active role complements the President’s economic reforms by supporting women and vulnerable families, while creating opportunities for sustainable livelihoods. He also applauded Governor Mbah for judiciously using federal allocations to accelerate development across Enugu State.
The TMS coordinator said the Tinubu administration’s fiscal reforms had substantially boosted the resources available to state governments, giving them greater capacity to invest in education, healthcare, transportation, and other infrastructure, referencing the new Smart Green Schools and Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres across Enugu’s 260 electoral wards.
Ochinanwata highlighted ongoing work on the Enugu-Port Harcourt and Enugu-Onitsha highways, saying the roads would strengthen regional connectivity, commerce, and economic integration. He noted that the combined impact of federal reforms and state-level investments has created opportunities for the South-East to accelerate its economic transformation.
The professor said the difficulties associated with economic reforms should not discourage Nigerians from backing policies intended to deliver long-term prosperity, and expressed confidence that continuing the administration’s policies would consolidate infrastructure development, expand monetary opportunities, and improve living standards.
Commending President Tinubu for appointing individuals from the South-East to key positions, Ochinanwata described the appointments and federal projects in the region as indications of inclusive national development and appealed to the people to support the President’s re-election in 2027, as policy continuity would consolidate the current gains.
Addressing the gathering, Senator Oluremi Tinubu assured that the difficult phase of economic reforms was over: “We’ve finished reforms; now is the time for prosperity. Don’t let anybody deceive you. The wait is over; we’re stepping into prosperity.” She thanked the South-East people for their hospitality, pointing to her chieftaincy titles from various communities.
In his remarks, Governor Mbah called the First Lady’s visit a homecoming and praised her commitment to improving women’s economic circumstances. Mbah said more than 2,000 women benefited from empowerment initiatives in Enugu in recent days, while the broader programme was designed to reach 5,000 women across the South-East.
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma praised President Tinubu’s development agenda and interventions in road infrastructure, electricity, water supply and education. Uzodimma said South-East governors had reviewed the administration’s performance and acknowledged its efforts to address development challenges affecting the region.
Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru and Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, represented by his deputy, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, advocated continued synergy between the Federal Government and South-East states. House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu hailed President Tinubu’s inclusive governance, citing the establishment of the Southeast Development Commission (SEDC).
Speaking on behalf of the wives of South-East governors, the First Lady of Enugu State, Mrs Nkechinyere Iheoma Mbah, applauded Senator Tinubu for prioritising women’s economic empowerment and low-income households. She urged the beneficiaries to use the equipment and other assistance productively to improve their livelihoods.
The wife of the Senate President, Mrs Unoma Godswill Akpabio, lauded the administration’s programmes and encouraged Nigerians to keep supporting its development initiatives. The event brought together government officials, APC stakeholders, traditional and community representatives, and women from Enugu, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi and Imo states
