Two state governors have thrown their political weight behind President Bola Tinubu, calling his re-election a personal mission and a family affair. Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his Akwa Ibom counterpart, Umo Eno, made their positions clear in separate interviews, arguing that Tinubu’s reforms have transformed state finances and development.
Oborevwori was unambiguous. He said his own re-election was already settled, leaving him free to focus entirely on delivering Tinubu a second term. He described it as his number one project, bigger than any other. The governor pointed to Tinubu’s marriage to Oluremi, an Itsekiri woman from Delta, as a powerful bond. Voting against an in-law, he said, would be evil.
He predicted that the 2023 voting pattern that favored Peter Obi in Delta would not repeat. He said his administration had built bridges across ethnic and religious lines, particularly with the Igbo and Christian communities. On the departure of former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege from the APC, Oborevwori dismissed him as untrustworthy, saying his exit was long expected.
Beyond politics, Oborevwori credited Tinubu’s economic reforms for boosting Delta’s revenue. He said the reforms are working, pointing to increased funds for state projects. He insisted the APC has little to fear because the government has delivered tangible results.
Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno echoed the sentiment. He said federal reforms have provided the funding for his state’s achievements, including 1,300 kilometers of roads, 458 compassionate homes, support for 12,000 elders, and modern schools in all 31 local government areas. He cited the Calabar-Lagos superhighway as a transformative project.
Eno pointed to macroeconomic indicators as further justification for Tinubu’s re-election. He highlighted tax reforms, a stable dollar, growing foreign reserves, and improving GDP. He called for political unity in Akwa Ibom, urging stakeholders to rally behind Senate President Godswill Akpabio, arguing that the opportunity to hold Nigeria’s number three citizen position does not come often.
