Obidike tells opposition: No vacancy at Aso Villa; Tinubu remains Nigeria’s messiah

Chief Obidike Chukwuebuka, a senior member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has stated that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock Villa ahead of the 2027 presidential election, affirming that President Bola Tinubu remains the best choice for Nigeria.

Obidike, who serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Clarivo Oil & Gas Limited, made the remarks while speaking with journalists about the Tinubu administration’s performance.

He argued that opposition parties have overlooked the significant reforms and achievements the government has made, especially given the challenging economic conditions inherited at the start of Tinubu’s term.

According to Obidike, the government has taken tough but necessary measures to stabilise the economy, strengthen public finances, and lay a foundation for long‑term growth.

The APC leader cited improvements in government revenue, heightened investor confidence, foreign‑exchange reforms, and efforts to boost economic stability as evidence that the administration is on the right track.

He also highlighted Nigeria’s trade performance, noting that the country now exports more than it imports—a development he described as a positive sign for the economy.

Obidike further pointed to the Federal Government’s social intervention programmes, stating that more than N400 billion has been disbursed to about eight million households through the Conditional Cash Transfer scheme.

He added that allocations to state governments have increased significantly as a result of ongoing fiscal and economic reforms, giving sub‑national governments greater resources to implement development projects.

On education, Obidike described the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as one of the administration’s most impactful initiatives, saying it has expanded access to tertiary education through interest‑free loans for eligible students.

He also noted that public universities have enjoyed relative industrial peace under the current administration, with no nationwide strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) since President Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.

In the area of infrastructure, Obidike listed several ongoing projects, including the Lagos‑Calabar Coastal Highway, the Sokoto‑Badagry Super Highway, the Kaduna‑Kano Rail Line, and the Kano‑Katsina‑Maradi Rail Project.

He also referenced efforts to modernise key seaports—Lekki Deep Sea Port, Apapa Port, Tin Can Island Port, and Onne Port—to improve trade efficiency and accommodate larger vessels.

Obidike, who also chairs Bidiks Nigeria Limited, urged Nigerians to remain supportive of the administration’s policies, expressing confidence that the reforms being implemented will deliver greater benefits in the coming years.

He maintained that President Tinubu has demonstrated the leadership required to move the country forward and remains well positioned to retain the confidence of Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general election.