Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has said President Bola Tinubu effectively began campaigning for a second term immediately after assuming office on May 29, 2023, arguing that the administration’s policies and reforms have become its strongest campaign tool.
Speaking on Saturday during a dinner hosted for members of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors Presidential Media Team at the Government House in Owerri, Uzodimma said tangible results from Tinubu’s administration would carry more weight with voters than political rallies.
The governor likened Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms to the biblical journey of the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land, saying difficult reforms often face initial resistance before yielding long-term benefits.
According to him, Tinubu came into office with a clear vision and immediately began implementing policies that have transformed the country’s economic direction.
“From May 29, 2023, President Bola Tinubu started his campaign for a second term. Campaign is not about political rallies; it is about getting people to believe in your vision through performance,” Uzodimma said.
He pointed to the growing number of beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s initiatives, including the student loan scheme and other social intervention programmes, as evidence of increasing public support for the administration.
The governor also declared that Imo State had become a stronghold of the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as a “one-party state.”
“Imo State is a one-party state. The Renewed Hope Agenda is present in every polling unit with at least 50 members. If they vote for our presidential candidate, the election is already won,” he stated.
Uzodimma credited the removal of fuel subsidy for significantly increasing allocations to states, enabling his administration to undertake major infrastructure and social development projects.
Recalling the state’s financial situation when he assumed office in January 2020, the governor said Imo had only about ₦100 million after paying salaries. He added that following Tinubu’s inauguration and subsequent Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursements, the state’s monthly allocation rose to more than ₦10 billion.
He maintained that the increased funding had allowed the state government to invest in roads, electricity, and other developmental projects across Imo.
Uzodimma further disclosed that the state’s internally generated revenue had grown from less than ₦400 million monthly in 2020 to nearly ₦3 billion, while its debt profile had dropped from over ₦280 billion to below ₦90 billion.
He also said road infrastructure projects had reduced travel time across the state from between two and three hours to less than 45 minutes, while ongoing power sector reforms had improved electricity generation and distribution.
According to the governor, Government House and parts of Owerri currently enjoy electricity generated through the state’s power initiative, with plans to extend the network to all local government areas before the end of the year.
Expressing confidence in Tinubu’s leadership, Uzodimma compared the President to Singapore’s founding leader, Lee Kuan Yew, describing him as a transformational figure.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, said the media tour was organised to allow journalists assess projects executed under the Renewed Hope Agenda across different states.
Dare said the initiative was aimed at providing Nigerians with firsthand evidence of the Federal Government’s development efforts and reforms.
Also speaking, Vanguard newspaper’s Managing Editor, Northern Operations, Soni Daniel, described the projects inspected in Imo as impressive, saying they reflected the impact of purposeful leadership and effective governance.