Comrade Daniel Onjeh, the All Progressives Congress candidate for Benue South Senatorial District in the 2023 elections, has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on completing two years in office.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Thursday, May 29, Onjeh dismissed the current opposition alliance against the President as “a failed project from the outset,” describing it as a coalition of “disgruntled and self-serving politicians” destined to collapse under its own contradictions.
While acknowledging that more work remains, Onjeh asserted that the Tinubu administration’s scorecard so far is positive.
“The country has been set on a path of progress and prosperity, even though significant strides are still required in tackling insecurity and corruption,” he noted.
The former senatorial candidate, who contested against then-Senate President David Mark in 2015, affirmed that no Nigerian leader in the Fourth Republic has matched Tinubu in policy clarity, direction, and the courage to implement tough reforms.
“Since 1999, we have not had a President with such a bold, clear-cut policy thrust and the grit to pursue his reform agenda despite formidable obstacles and disinformation campaigns,” Onjeh declared. “President Tinubu has proven beyond doubt that he is not in office to engage in politics as usual. He is in office to rebuild the foundations of our economy, restore discipline in governance, and chart a progressive course for generations to come.”
Onjeh highlighted the administration’s responsive governance, praising its willingness to adjust policies based on public feedback.
“This administration has a listening ear,” he stressed. “It has, on numerous occasions, made essential policy adjustments based on well-articulated concerns raised by citizens, civil society organisations, and sector experts. That is the hallmark of responsive leadership—not the dictatorship that the President’s detractors are trying to portray.”
As an economist, Onjeh likened Tinubu’s reforms to a necessary but painful surgical procedure. “Nigerians must understand that we are in a transitional period—akin to national economic surgery. Yes, the process is painful, but ultimately we shall emerge stronger, more self-reliant, and better positioned for growth,” he explained.
He challenged opposition figures who criticized subsidy removal to state what they would have done differently, arguing that all major presidential candidates had pledged the same policy.
Calling on Nigerian youths to support Tinubu’s re-election bid, Onjeh, a former National Association of Nigerian Students president, described the President as “the last of his generation to lead Nigeria” while laying the groundwork for future youth leadership. He cited youth-focused initiatives like the student loan scheme and tech hubs as evidence of Tinubu’s commitment to generational empowerment.
Onjeh dismissed the anti-Tinubu coalition as “a political trash can where expired ambitions and worn-out ideologies are dumped,” predicting its failure in the 2027 elections. He urged Nigerians to assess the administration based on tangible outcomes rather than opposition propaganda.
However, he called for stronger anti-corruption measures, particularly in the National Assembly, where he alleged widespread abuse of constituency project funds. “Some lawmakers treat these projects as personal ATMs rather than as instruments of development,” he stated, urging Tinubu to curb such leakages to ensure economic policies succeed.
Concluding with optimism, Onjeh expressed confidence that with sustained public support, the Tinubu administration would overcome current challenges and deliver on its ‘Renewed Hope’ mandate for a more prosperous Nigeria.