Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has expressed optimism that Nigeria will attain economic strength comparable to that of the United States and the United Kingdom when President Bola Tinubu completes his ongoing economic reforms.
Okpebholo made the assertion in a video circulating on social media while addressing supporters, defending the removal of fuel subsidy and insisting that the policy would eventually yield economic benefits for Nigerians.
The governor praised Tinubu for demonstrating the political will to implement the policy, which he said previous administrations had been reluctant to pursue because of its potential political consequences.
“Mr President is a man of courage. For many years, Nigeria has been battling to remove fuel subsidy, and no president, right from Obasanjo to our own Goodluck, could remove fuel subsidy. Nobody dared to say it because the removal of fuel subsidy could even remove a president from office.
“But within a twinkle of an eye, in a few minutes, in a few seconds, this president summoned courage and said it was better for him to deliver this country and reform its economy. He removed that fuel subsidy. That is why you have seen the boost in Nigeria’s economy today.
“The reforms of Mr President are succeeding. Let the common man be the one to enjoy this money. So already, there are so many holes that have been created.
“Those holes are what he is filling now. By the time he cements all those holes, Nigeria will bounce back. Nigeria will be strong like America. Nigeria will be as strong like England. Our economy will be very strong. The only man who had the courage to do it is the president,” Okpebholo said.
The governor acknowledged the economic difficulties associated with the reforms but argued that the government was working to address the disruptions and position the country for recovery.
He also cited the increase in federal allocations to state governments as evidence of the changes under Tinubu’s administration.
Recounting a conversation with former Edo State governor and senator, Adams Oshiomhole, Okpebholo compared the allocations received by state governments during Oshiomhole’s tenure with the amounts available under the current administration.
“I was talking to Adams Oshiomhole. I asked him, ‘When you were governor, how much were you getting?’ He said three billion naira. But today, I thought he was getting close to 20 billion naira,” he said.
Okpebholo further pointed to ongoing infrastructure development in Benin City, the Edo State capital, particularly the construction of flyovers, as evidence of the transformation taking place under his administration.
“Before now, when you got to Benin, which we call the ancient city, it looked different. With the introduction of our new flyovers in Benin, the city is now looking like a modern city,” he said.
Turning to the forthcoming presidential election, the governor urged his supporters to mobilise votes for Tinubu, recalling his pledge to secure 2.5 million votes for the president.
“On the 16th of January, we will go to the polls again to elect our president and vote for our president,” he told the supporters.
He subsequently challenged them to reaffirm their commitment to the target.
“This time, how many of you know my promise of 2.5 million votes? Are you aware of my promise of 2.5 million votes? Are you aware of the 2.5 million votes? Are we going to get them? Are we going to get them?” he asked.
