By Ubon Marcus
In a political landscape where bitterness, tribal loyalties, and party-driven hostility often hold sway, Akwa Ibom’s fourth democratically elected Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel’s recent bold call for Nigerians to rally behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is apt and timely, one that perfectly complements Governor Umo Eno’s bipartisan unity mandate in Akwa Ibom. At a time when some Akwaibomites on the other side of the divide are treating politics as warfare rather than a collective endeavour, Emmanuel’s intervention offers a refreshing model of courage, maturity, and national-minded leadership.
Speaking at an interactive session during the Pre-Service of Nine Lessons and Carol at United Evangelical Church in Lagos, the Onna-born former Governor and major opposition figure reminded Nigerians of a truth many choose to ignore: no president can succeed without collective national support, and no nation survives when its people weaponize divisions. He urged Nigerians to rise above political and ethnic barriers and give President Tinubu the support required to address Nigeria’s current challenges; a clear, simple, and profound message. Nigeria must unite with President Tinubu to confront the challenges threatening its stability.
President Tinubu inherited an economy weakened by decades of policy inconsistencies, heavy subsidy spending, unsustainable debt servicing, and an exchange system riddled with corruption and round-tripping. He came in, took weighty decisions that previous administrations perhaps due to political convenience and the lack of will, avoided. Decisions which at first, inflicted unintended pains on the masses but were necessary and long overdue.
1. Removal of Fuel Subsidy
For decades Nigeria spent trillions of its resources subsidising fuel. The fuel subsidy although with noble intentions at first, along the line became a cash-cow for the privileged few and never trickled down to ordinary people. President Tinubu put a stop to this on his first day in office. That bold step stopped Nigeria’s fiscal bleeding, freed up over N7 trillion annually for states and the federal government, resulting in federating units receiving the highest FAAC allocations in the history of this nation, thereby enabling more capital projects as witnessed in the state. Yes, it was an uncomfortable reform but a necessary one.
2. Unification of the Exchange Rate
Nigeria previously operated a multiple exchange rate system that gave room for corruption, arbitrage, and capital flight. The Tinubu administration has collapsed these multiple windows into a single market-driven rate. The result? Foreign investors are more comfortable doing business with us now, dollar inflows have gradually increased, and the central bank is rebuilding confidence in the financial markets. It is a hard path, but a cleaner and more globally trusted one.
3. Aggressive Tax and Revenue Reforms
Decades of reliance on oil ruined Nigeria’s revenue discipline. Tinubu’s government has empowered the Federal Inland Revenue Service to expand the tax net without raising taxes, tax collection systems have been digitised, and efforts to make states more self-sustaining instead of federally dependent are ongoing. A well-coordinated and disciplined revenue system is a sign of a maturing economy.
4. Restoring Investor Confidence
For the first time in years, Nigeria has seen major investment commitments from global companies. Tech, energy, and manufacturing firms are re-entering the market, and the capital market has recorded renewed activity and investor confidence is slowly but surely returning.
These reforms, although they may not produce instant comfort, are beneficial in the long run, as Nigeria cannot continue in profligacy while the foundations of the economy rot, hence Mr President had to take the tough decision.
Former Governor Udom Emmanuel, from his standpoint in corporate banking, understands the technical implications of these reforms hence his call for national support. He understands that economic recovery is not a one-party project; it is a national undertaking.
By asserting that “this is not the time to dwell on divisions”, he is in sync with his successor, Pastor Umo Eno’s position that gone are the days of strife as Akwa Ibom and indeed Nigeria, cannot continue in sabotage, cynicism, or political hostility. When President Tinubu succeeds, Nigeria succeeds.
In view of this, this writer implores opposition political parties, most especially PDP’s Caretaker Committee in Akwa Ibom, to borrow a leaf from Mr Udom Emmanuel. If His Excellency Mr Udom Emmanuel, as a major opposition figure in the country, can publicly rally support for President Tinubu for the overall good of the nation, then surely the factional PDP executives in Akwa Ibom can set aside their pettiness and support Governor Umo Eno.
It behoves them, therefore, to immediately dissolve themselves and rally behind the Aniekan Akpan-led exco for responsible opposition politicking. Akwa Ibom needs peace and stability to benefit from the new direction that His Excellency Governor Umo Eno’s golden movement to the APC portends. No state prospers when political actors constantly pull in different directions.
Nigeria’s long road ahead requires Unity and President Tinubu’s economic reforms which are already dismantling decades of mismanagement, in just a little more time and with a combination of national goodwill, will fully bear fruit.
Mr Udom Emmanuel has shown unusual courage and clarity by calling for collective support. His voice is a reminder that patriotism sometimes requires swallowing pride and putting Nigeria first. If more leaders embraced this posture, perhaps our national politics would transform from noisy rivalry into genuine collaboration, as Nigeria cannot rise without unity, of which Tinubu is laying the foundation. The rest of us must play our part.
Thank you for reading.
