‎Tinubu Deserves Second Term Despite Economic Hardship — Mimiko

‎Former governorship candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in Ondo State, Abass Mimiko, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu deserves a second term despite the economic hardship confronting Nigerians.

‎Mimiko, who is the younger brother of former Governor Olusegun Mimiko, made this statement during an interaction session with journalists.

‎He said that Tinubu administration inherited what he described as a severely distressed economy, with heavy debt obligations, fuel subsidy expenditure, foreign exchange distortions and widespread insecurity.

‎He argued that the president’s performance should be assessed against the situation he inherited in 2023, rather than only by the current economic difficulties being experienced by citizens.

‎According to Mimiko, the removal of fuel subsidy, though painful, had freed substantial resources for government, claiming that more than N15 trillion had been saved since the policy was introduced.

‎He said Nigerians should also consider the increased revenue accruing to states, arguing that state governments had a responsibility to explain how the additional funds were being spent.

‎“If N500 million are allocated to each local government, we will definitely not be where we are. I am of the opinion that people must call out their governors regarding, ‘What are you doing with this huge allocation?’” he said.

‎Mimiko also cited the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), increased crude oil production and efforts to curb oil theft as areas where he believed the Federal Government had made progress. He, however, acknowledged that the country had not reached the desired level of prosperity.

‎The ZLP chieftain said his support for Tinubu did not mean he would join the All Progressives Congress (APC), stressing that he remained a committed member of the ZLP.

‎“President Bola Tinubu doesn’t belong to APC alone. He is the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He belongs to all of us,” Mimiko said.

‎He said he was therefore working on a platform known as the One Love Coalition, which he said would bring together people from different political parties and those without political affiliations to support Tinubu’s second-term bid.

‎Mimiko said the proposed coalition would focus on grassroots mobilisation and public enlightenment, adding that it would begin in Ondo State and extend to other parts of the South-West.

‎He also linked his support for Tinubu to what he described as the president’s efforts towards restructuring the country, citing local government autonomy, regional development commissions, state police discussions and greater economic activity across the regions.

‎Mimiko nevertheless maintained that the states must also take responsibility for their development, saying the Federal Government could not determine how governors spend funds allocated to their states.