Category: Politics

Former All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Benue South, Comrade Daniel Onjeh, has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the occasion of his second year in office.

He declared the alliance against the President is a failed project from the outset.

He described it as bankrupt venture destined to collapse under the weight of its contradictions and selfish motivations.

In a statement on Thursday, he said: “The country has been set on a path of progress and prosperity, even though significant strides are still required in tackling insecurity and corruption.”

Onjeh, who contested against former Senate President David Mark in the 2015 General Elections—resulting in a historic rerun—affirmed that no Nigerian leader in the Fourth Republic has matched President Tinubu in terms of policy clarity, direction, firmness of purpose and the political courage to implement transformative reforms in the face of adversity.

According to him, the Tinubu administration stands out for its resolve to rescue the Nigerian economy and restructure the nation’s governance framework for sustainable development.

“Since 1999, we have not had a President with such a bold, clear-cut policy thrust and the grit to pursue his reform agenda despite formidable obstacles and disinformation campaigns,” Onjeh declared. “President Tinubu has proven beyond doubt that he is not in office to engage in politics as usual. He is in office to rebuild the foundations of our economy, restore discipline in governance, and chart a progressive course for generations to come.”

Onjeh further emphasised that one of the unique strengths of the Tinubu administration in its first two years has been its active and effective feedback mechanism, which pays close attention to the sentiments and plights of the Nigerian people.

He observed that the administration’s willingness to revise policies in response to credible feedback demonstrates leadership sensitivity, maturity and a genuine commitment to democratic principles.

“This administration has a listening ear,” Onjeh stressed. “It has, on numerous occasions, made essential policy adjustments based on well-articulated concerns raised by citizens, civil society organisations, and sector experts. That is the hallmark of responsive leadership—not the dictatorship that the President’s detractors are trying to portray.”

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Speaking as an economist, Onjeh likened the Tinubu-led reforms to a painful but necessary surgical procedure—initially uncomfortable, yet essential for the rebirth of a healthier, more robust national economy. He remarked that decades of economic mismanagement, systemic corruption, and rent-seeking politics have inflicted deep wounds on Nigeria’s economy—wounds that can only be healed through tough, courageous decisions.

“Nigerians must understand that we are in a transitional period—akin to national economic surgery. Yes, the process is painful, but ultimately we shall emerge stronger, more self-reliant, and better positioned for growth,” Onjeh explained. “Let us endure the temporary hardship with the knowledge that a bountiful reward and long-lasting relief lie ahead.”

He further noted that all major presidential candidates in the last general elections pledged to remove fuel subsidies.

He challenged them to state what they would have done differently had they won. “They would have removed fuel subsidies as well,” he declared. “It appears that these candidates, who now lead the so-called anti-Tinubu coalition, simply want to seize power without a clear plan of action.”

He urged Nigerians not to be deceived by these politicians. “As a former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), I call on Nigerian youths to support Tinubu’s re-election, as it appears he will be the last of his generation to lead Nigeria,” he stated.

He assured young Nigerians that the President is laying the groundwork for their future leadership. He, therefore, urged them to protect the administration and offer the necessary support for it to steer the nation forward.

Onjeh, who also served as Chairman of the Governing Board of the Projects Development Institute (PRODA) in Enugu, called on youths to disregard the propaganda of the so-called anti-Tinubu coalition, which he described as a gathering of failed politicians desperate to regain relevance and resume looting public resources.

“These politicians have nothing new to offer. They are a spent force whose sole ambition is to return to power and further enrich themselves and their families at the expense of the suffering masses. The youth must see through their deceptive antics and reject them emphatically,” he warned.

He emphasised that the Tinubu administration has consistently rolled out youth-focused policies, citing the recently launched student loan scheme, technology hubs, and entrepreneurship initiatives as examples of programmes designed with the future in mind.

Onjeh asserted that President Tinubu is consciously laying a solid foundation for a generational shift in leadership—one that will empower young Nigerians to take full charge of the nation’s destiny.

“President Tinubu is building a new political and economic template for youth leadership. He is not merely preparing a seat at the table for young Nigerians—he is building the table with them in mind. That is the kind of foresight and generational responsibility Nigeria requires at this critical juncture,” he added.

Comrade Onjeh reiterated that the anti-Tinubu coalition is a political backwater—a conclave of expired, recycled, and ideologically bankrupt individuals whose relevance has long faded.

“The coalition is a political trash can where expired ambitions and worn-out ideologies are dumped preparatory to transportation to the dumb site of political oblivion. It has failed even before it began, and its brief denouement will be written in 2027 when the President secures another victory for the progressive cause,” he declared.

He urged Nigerians not to be swayed by the orchestrated noise of the opposition, but rather to assess the President’s performance based on facts, sincerity of purpose, and tangible policy outcomes.

According to him, no amount of media propaganda or coordinated street protests can ultimately diminish the positive impact of the Tinubu administration’s reforms.

“Rome was not built in a day,” Onjeh reminded. “Transformation takes time, sacrifice, and collective will. We must not allow those who brought the nation to its knees to hijack our national narrative simply because they lost out and are uncomfortable with change.”

He urged Tinubu to intensify efforts in addressing critical national issues, particularly the entrenched corruption in the National Assembly.

He called on the President to direct his attention towards federal government agencies, ensuring they adhere strictly to the core mandates for which they were established.

“The longstanding corruption that has plagued the National Assembly since 1999 must be addressed. Allegations of budget padding and embezzlement through constituency and zonal intervention projects must not be swept under the carpet,” he asserted.

Onjeh condemned the persistent abuse of the budgeting process, whereby some lawmakers exploit their oversight powers to manipulate constituency project allocations in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), thereby diverting public funds for personal gain.

“There is brazen corruption in some quarters of the National Assembly, particularly concerning the misuse of constituency projects. Some lawmakers treat these projects as personal ATMs rather than as instruments of development for their constituencies. The President must shine a spotlight on these abuses and bring the perpetrators to justice,” he stated.

He further noted that although the Tinubu administration has released significant sums to state governments and the legislature from savings derived from the removal of fuel subsidies, the intended relief has not reached the grassroots.

Onjeh argued that no nation can prosper under the burden of corruption. Citing Lee Kuan Yew’s transformative leadership in Singapore, he insisted that President Tinubu must tackle corruption decisively.

“Once you have economic leakages, your economic policies, no matter how laudable, cannot stand. The ₦1 billion and ₦2 billion allocated for Reps Members and Senators respectively, for constituency projects through government agencies could have transformed many communities had the funds been used for their intended purpose. The opposition would then have no excuse to hide behind popular suffering and form a coalition to unseat the President,” he stated.