…Says President’s second term is in their best interest

PRESIDENT of GLOBE International Legislators and sponsor of Nigeria’s signature climate change Act,Rep Sam Onuigbo, has disclosed that the broad range of economic reforms that have repositioned that Nigeria’s political economy has endeared South East voters to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

He explained that nothing interests the people of the region more than a stable foreign exchange regime and good business climate, stressing that a majority of the people of South East have found out that it is in their best interest for the President to win a second term in office.

Onuigbo, who spoke a select journalist in his private office in Abuja, Friday, noted that the President’s dogged fight for fiscal autonomy for the local government councils and the huge revenue inflows to the state governors from the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee, have combined to improve infrastructure and access to social amenities in the region.

On the likely impact of the mixed signals from the infighting among the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in South East about their support for President Tinubu’s administration, Onuigbo, who is a former two-term member of the House of Representatives, said that the President understands the republican nature of the Igbo.

He maintained that despite what could be seen in the public domain about the various leanings of the South East leaders, virtually all the political actors from the region are united in working for Tinubu’s re-election.

While counseling against undue emphasis on the huge revenue accruing to the governors, the former lawmaker said that the governors should be challenged to justify the utilization of such resources among the various needs of the people.

“Yes, indeed, the state and local government councils receive substantial allocations. But, the governors should heed the President’s advice by allowing the benefits to trickle down to improve the living well-being of citizens.

“Local governments remain the closest tier of government to the people and should be adequately empowered to drive development at the grassroots. It is obvious that the states are now in a better financial position than in previous years, because fewer states depending on bailouts to pay workers’ salaries.

“But, increased revenue must translate into visible development, particularly in rural communities. That is why state governments should prioritise projects that directly address the needs of the people and ensure that resources meant for grassroots development were properly utilised.

Onuigbo, who last Month emerged as the first African to be elected as President of GLOBE International Legislators, paid glowing tributes to President Tinubu for his administration’s “significant progress in climate action, economic reforms and the fight against insecurity.”

According to him, immediately he was sworn into office, “President Tinubu demonstrated his commitment to climate action by directing government officials to seek climate-related investments at the COP28 Climate Conference in Dubai.

“Further, he demonstrated this commitment through his participation in high-level global climate and sustainability meetings, including the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summits. Since then, the Tinubu administration has continued to implement the provisions of the Climate Change Act, thereby recording tremendous progress in areas such as the operationalisation of the Climate Change Fund and the development of Nigeria’s carbon market framework.”

The former federal legislator expressed happiness that the investments in mineral processing and green industrialisation, especially the Lithium manufacturing in Nasarawa State are expected to strengthen Nigeria’s position in the emerging green economy.

He assured that Nigerians would feel greater benefits from ongoing reforms if all levels of government demonstrated accountability and ensured that public resources reached the people, even as he maintained that Tinubu’s second term would consolidate on the gains already recorded.

Onuigbo pointed out that the fight against insecurity in the country has been recording evident successes across the country, adding that the improvements have also been remarkable in the South-East, where residents in many communities have resumed normal economic and social activities on Mondays.

He called on stringent punitive measures against anyone found to be supporting or sponsoring criminal activities, stressing that if identified terrorism sponsors are dealt with in accordance with the law, the pockets of insecurity remaining in some parts of the country would be exterminated.