Vice-President Kashim Shettima has defended President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms despite the hardship they have brought upon Nigerians, urging citizens to evaluate the administration by comparing the country’s current situation with what it inherited in 2023.
Shettima made the remarks on Monday at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Calabar, Cross River State, where the party intensified its mobilisation for Tinubu’s re-election ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Representing President Tinubu at the event, the Vice-President maintained that although the reforms had been difficult, they were beginning to produce positive outcomes. He urged Nigerians to consider the state of the economy before and after the current administration assumed office.
The rally attracted several prominent APC figures, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the party’s National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno, Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo and Cross River Deputy Governor Peter Odey.
Also present were members of the National Assembly, including Adams Oshiomhole, the Deputy Director-General of the Campaign Council, alongside other party leaders and supporters.
While defending the Federal Government’s economic policies, Shettima acknowledged the difficulties Nigerians were experiencing but insisted that meaningful economic transformation required tough decisions.
“President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms are something we have seen, though painful; you can agree with me that they are beginning to yield positive results.
“Therefore, I urge Nigerians to judge the administration based on where the country was in 2023 when Tinubu took over and now,” Shettima said.
The Vice-President likened Tinubu’s leadership style to that of Singapore’s founding Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, who transformed the country from a struggling colony into a major global financial centre.
He also appealed to Cross River residents to support the APC for another term in 2027, describing the state as politically important to the party and deserving of increased federal attention.
Shettima urged the electorate to vote for Tinubu, Governor Otu, Deputy Governor Odey and other APC candidates during the elections.
Meanwhile, Otu assured the President that Cross River would deliver overwhelming votes for him in the 2027 presidential election, attributing the anticipated support to the benefits the state had received from the Tinubu administration.
“In 2027, we are going to give President Bola Tinubu maximum votes in Cross River, because Cross River remains solidly APC.
“As a people, we will surely demonstrate our loyalty by giving the President overwhelming support at the polls come 2027,” the governor said.
Otu maintained that the state had benefited from several Federal Government initiatives and would demonstrate its appreciation through strong electoral backing.
He called on APC leaders and supporters across the 18 local government areas to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the elections.
Among the major projects highlighted by the governor were the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the proposed Bakassi Deep Seaport and the planned establishment of the Gulf of Guinea Commission Secretariat in Calabar.
According to Otu, the coastal highway would strengthen transportation links, boost trade and tourism, and attract investments, while the proposed deep seaport could establish Cross River as an international maritime gateway and create employment opportunities.
He further noted that locating the Gulf of Guinea Commission Secretariat in Calabar would increase international engagements and stimulate business and hospitality activities.
The governor also mentioned the Nigerian Education Loan Fund as one of the Federal Government’s programmes aimed at improving access to tertiary education.
He stressed that Cross River must translate its political influence into meaningful development by supporting the APC at every level.
Also addressing the gathering, Yilwatda urged Cross River residents to outperform their previous electoral participation by turning out in large numbers to secure Tinubu’s re-election in January 2027.
The APC national chairman praised the massive turnout and reception at the rally, describing them as indications of increasing public support for Tinubu and his Renewed Hope Agenda.
However, he cautioned that the enthusiasm demonstrated at campaign events must be reflected in actual votes, noting that the forthcoming election presented an opportunity for Cross River to strengthen its political and economic relevance.
Yilwatda described the state as strategically positioned to become a major economic hub because of its geographical location, commercial prospects and maritime advantages.
He also highlighted the Federal Government’s infrastructure plans, particularly the expansion of railway transportation, development of seaports and proposed nationwide superhighway network, as initiatives capable of transforming Cross River and the wider South-South region.
According to him, the projects would improve connectivity between markets, ease the transportation of goods and people, lower logistics costs, attract investments and generate employment.
“For Cross River State, the opportunities are enormous. An efficient rail network will improve the movement of people and goods, while functional seaports can expand maritime commerce, create jobs and open new opportunities for businesses.
“A modern highway network will further connect ports, production centres and commercial cities, integrating the state more effectively into Nigeria’s expanding economic landscape,” he said.
He described infrastructure expansion as a major pillar of Tinubu’s economic reform programme, arguing that improved transportation networks would help states maximise their economic strengths, attract private investors and contribute more to national development.
The APC chairman encouraged residents to look beyond the excitement of political campaigns and consider the long-term gains of policy continuity, infrastructure development and economic reforms.
He further urged party members, traditional rulers, community leaders, youths and women to strengthen grassroots campaigns and extend the APC’s message to every ward and community in the state.
Yilwatda said achieving the party’s objective would require unity, proper organisation and consistent engagement with voters, adding that the APC planned to consolidate its political influence through its achievements, policies and vision for Nigeria.
He expressed confidence that Cross River would play a crucial role in the party’s 2027 campaign, insisting that another mandate would enable the Tinubu administration to deepen its reforms, fast-track infrastructure projects and create more economic opportunities.
The APC consequently urged residents to translate the impressive turnout at the Calabar rally into what it described as a decisive show of electoral support for Tinubu and the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Cross River campaign followed the inauguration of the APC presidential campaign council in Kaduna on October 24.