Kindly send your name and location ONLY to this WhatsApp Number 09069473894 to receive our daily news updates.
READ ALSO: JOSEF ONOH Faults Soludo’s Attack On Obi, Urges Tinubu To Reshuffle Cabinet
President Bola Tinubu’s former campaign spokesman in the South East Dr Josef Onoh has refuted the claim by a billionaire businessman, Prince Arthur Eze, that President Tinubu has endorsed Enugu Governor, Peter Mbah, for re-election.
Onoh said that the statement was Eze’s personal opinion and did not represent any official position of the Presidency.
Onoh noted Tinubu is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and could not have endorsed Governor Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), that would have amounted to anti-party activity.
He said the President is focused on stabilising the economy and tackling insecurity and not in the business of endorsing state Governors for second term, adding that the resources that the Federal Government makes available to the State Governments are enough to make their people reward the Governors with second terms.
“President Tinubu belongs to the APC while Gov Mbah is from the opposition PDP. Having been one of the prominent Nigerians who fought for democracy, the president was elected to serve Nigerians, hence endorsing any Governor for a second term in office is an anti- democratic action.
“The President is a firm believer that it’s the people, your constituents, the electorates who have the sole powers of endorsing anyone seeking political office, be it for a second term. Therefore any performing Governor, National and State Assembly members down to the local governments in Nigeria can only be endorsed by their people based on performance. It’s only the electorates in Enugu State that have powers to endorse the Governor,” he said.
Onoh said that the same goes to all the elected and appointed political office holders that are endorsing the president for a second term in office.
“As much as that gesture is highly appreciated, it is counter productive and amounts to nothing if you have failed to provide effective representation and democratic dividends for your constituents and state. Your performance is the most important and greatest endorsement the president appreciates and not your praise-singing, because he believes your performance should speak for you and once you are performing, the people will support and follow you.”
Onoh however noted the Federal government has provided all necessary support for all Governors to perform such that the monthly Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations to states in 2023 ranged from N403.39 billion (in March) to N627.73 billion (in September).
“Enugu’s share would be based on the revenue-sharing formula (26.72% for states collectively, with Enugu’s portion depending on population and other factors). Enugu’s deductions for debt repayments were relatively low, at N1.88 billion in Q2 2023, suggesting a higher net allocation compared to states with larger deductions.
“Also the 2024 FAAC Allocations, states were projected to receive N5.54 trillion in 2024, a 69% increase from N3.3 trillion in 2023. Enugu was projected to receive N120 billion for the entire year based on the 2024 approved budget.”
He recalled that in reports from June 2023 to May 2024, Enugu’s allocation increased by 42.82% compared to the previous 12 months (June 2022–May 2023).
“Enugu State likely received approximately N225–240 billion in federal allocations from June 2023 to May 2025, based on a 2024 projection of N120 billion. An estimated N70 billion for the second half of 2023, and N35–50 billion for the first five months of 2025.”
He noted that the above was a rough estimate due to incomplete monthly data and reliance on projections, but that it clearly demonstrates the president’s reforms and support for all state governors to discharge their duties without hindrance.
“So if you perform, the people will vote you in or out and not President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Hence, the claim of Mr. President’s endorsement is more of a political statement for the occasion as it lacks corroboration from primary sources such as official statements from the presidency.
“Historically, Nigeria presidents had rarely, if ever, publicly endorsed opposition figures for governorship re-elections due to the polarized nature of party politics.
For instance, during the 2023 election cycle, former President Muhammadu Buhari (APC) endorsed President Bola Tinubu (APC) for president, not opposition candidates, and focused on supporting APC Governors and candidates.
“Similarly, Presidents such as Goodluck Jonathan (PDP) and Olusegun Obasanjo (PDP) prioritized their party’s interests during their tenures, with no clear instances of endorsing opposition Governors for re-election.
Rather, there are cases of opposition governors defecting to the ruling party, which can be interpreted as implicit support.
“Governors Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta State) and Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom State), both originally PDP, defected to the APC and expressed admiration for Tinubu’s leadership. So, if Governor Peter Mbah wants our support he should boldly defect to our party, the APC.
“While this could be seen as aligning with the president’s influence, it does not constitute a direct endorsement for a second term while they were still opposition members. We are in the business of running a country not endorsements. The presidency isn’t INEC!”
CALL 08023851511 to kick-start business relationship with us for your advert, PR, Publicity, Awareness, Interviews, Feature Stories, Press Release/Statement, Documentary and so on.
Leave a Reply