Tinubu’s reforms are APC’s strongest campaign tool – Uzodimma asserts • Media tour designed to give Nigerians first-hand proof of ‘Renewed Hope’ – Sunday Dare

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has said President Bola Tinubu began campaigning for a second term from the day he assumed office through policies and reforms that are already delivering tangible benefits, insisting that performance and not political rallies win elections.

Speaking on Saturday at the Government House in Owerri during a dinner for members of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors Presidential Media Team after they inspected Federal and State projects in Imo, the governor said the administration’s achievements had become its greatest campaign message.

Drawing a biblical analogy, Uzodimma likened Nigeria’s current transition to the Israelites’ journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, saying difficult reforms often attract resistance before their benefits become evident.

“When May 29, 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was sworn in, he started rolling out reform policies—a man who was prepared, who understood clearly what he came to do as President.

According to him, “the old order is gone, and it has given place to a new order,” he said.

Rejecting the notion that campaigns are limited to rallies, the governor declared, “People are talking about campaigns. From May 29, 2023, President Bola Tinubu started his campaign for a second term.

“What is campaign? It is not political rally that is campaign. Campaign is getting people to believe or buy into your vision as a leader who has come to do what they desire,” he asserted.

Uzodimma argued that the administration’s programmes had built a broad base of support across the country.

“Look at the population of APC, verifiable with NIN, in excess of 13 million. Look at the number of people benefiting from the student loan. Look at the number of people benefiting from various social interventions,” he said.

The governor declared that Imo had become firmly aligned with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Imo State is a one-party state; I can say that authoritatively. Renewed Hope Agenda is present in every polling unit, with a minimum of 50 people. So if our members vote for our presidential candidate, you already won the election,” he said.

He attributed many of the developmental projects in the state to the fiscal gains from the Federal Government’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy.

Recalling the state’s financial position when he assumed office in January 2020, Uzodimma said, “The Accountant-General told me after salary we had only ₦100 million.”

He contrasted that with the period after Tinubu assumed office, noting, “But immediately May 29, 2023 came, after FAAC, I saw over ₦10 billion. I said, ‘What?’”

The governor said he publicly supported the subsidy removal because it increased resources available to states for development.

“So when people were trying to oppose removal of subsidy, I came out and said subsidy must be removed. Whatever this man has done has made us have access to funds to help the people.”

According to him, the additional resources had been deployed to visible infrastructure and social projects across Imo.

“You have come to Imo not to campaign for our people. You came to see what we’ve been able to achieve. Our people have already decided that they want President Bola Ahmed Tinubu back as President because without him and his policies and programmes, this environment we are enjoying today would have been very impossible to achieve,” he said.

Highlighting the state’s progress, Uzodimma said internally generated revenue had risen from less than ₦400 million monthly in 2020 to nearly ₦3 billion, while the state’s debt profile had dropped from over ₦280 billion to less than ₦90 billion.

He also said travel time across the State had reduced from between two and three hours to less than 45 minutes because of road infrastructure, while electricity generation, transmission and distribution had improved under the state’s power reforms.

“In Owerri capital, including this Government House, this is homemade electricity,” he said, adding that the network would be extended to local government areas before the end of the year.

Looking ahead, the governor expressed confidence in Tinubu’s leadership, saying, “In Bola Tinubu, I’m seeing another Lee Kuan Yew.”

Earlier, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, said the media tour was designed to provide Nigerians with first-hand evidence of projects being implemented under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He said the delegation had inspected Federal and State projects across several states “to show Nigerians that we are experiencing fundamental changes under President Tinubu.”

Dare described Tinubu as “a leader who took off on the very first day, to take those decisions that have defined the trajectory of his administration.”

Also speaking, Managing Editor, Northern Operations of Vanguard newspaper, Soni Daniel, said the projects inspected in Imo had left a strong impression on the visiting journalists.

“I’ve been to all the States in Nigeria except Yobe, but what I’ve seen in Imo is impressive,” he said, adding that the tour had reinforced his belief that purposeful leadership translates into visible development.