The All Progressives Congress has defended the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying Nigeria needs continuity and consolidation rather than a complete change of direction.
The APC National Vice Chairman for the South-East, Dr Ijeomah Arodiogbu, made the position known on Monday while reacting to comments by former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Obi had criticised the Tinubu administration during a television interview, arguing that the country was moving in the wrong direction and calling for a different approach to governance and economic management.
The former Anambra State governor reportedly described the administration’s agenda as one of “failure and renewed hopelessness.”
However, Arodiogbu disagreed with the opposition figure, insisting that the reforms introduced by the Federal Government needed time to deliver their full impact.
He said, “The priority for Nigeria should be the consolidation of ongoing economic gains, not the laying of a new foundation.”
The APC chieftain cited the removal of fuel subsidy, foreign exchange reforms and fiscal restructuring as measures he said were designed to reposition the economy for sustainable growth.
According to him, although the reforms had imposed difficulties on citizens, reversing them would undermine the progress already made.
Arodiogbu also accused Obi of focusing on the country’s challenges without offering practical alternatives that take current economic realities into account.
He urged Nigerians to assess political leaders based on their records, verifiable achievements and ability to sustain policies that promote economic growth.
The APC vice chairman further argued that abandoning ongoing reforms could negatively affect investor confidence, infrastructure development, job creation and economic stability.
He said the government remained committed to improving the economy and expressed optimism that Nigerians would begin to experience greater benefits as the reforms matured.
Arodiogbu therefore called on Nigerians to support the Tinubu administration’s economic agenda, arguing that the country would benefit more from refining existing policies and consolidating gains than from embarking on what he described as another “political experiment.”
