Vice-President Kashim Shettima has declared that the most difficult phase of President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms is over, assuring Nigerians that a second term for the administration would usher in a period of economic recovery, growth and prosperity as the benefits of its policies begin to materialise.
Shettima, who spoke at the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign rally in Calabar, Cross River State, yesterday said the administration had completed the difficult task of resetting the economy and would devote the next four years to translating the gains of its reforms into tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians.
The Vice-President, who canvassed support for the re-election of Tinubu, Governor Bassey Otu, his deputy, Peter Odey, and other APC candidates in the 2027 general elections, maintained that the opposition lacked the capacity to offer a more effective alternative to the government’s economic programme.
He said the administration had already taken the difficult decisions necessary to reposition the economy, insisting that continuity would enable Nigerians to reap the benefits of the reforms.
“We are confident of this promise to deliver for this nation because we have already done the most difficult job of economic reset. None of the other options available has the capacity to move the needle of the economy. We have rescued the economy, and the road ahead is one of harvest. This second term is one of harvest, for you and all Nigerians,” he declared.
Shettima said the APC was seeking another mandate on the strength of its stewardship and commitment to progress, prosperity, opportunity and dignity, stressing that political authority ultimately belonged to the people.
According to him, those entrusted with public office must return to the electorate with an account of their performance and a programme deserving of renewed confidence.
The Vice-President said Cross River State was positioned to benefit significantly from the Federal Government’s infrastructure and economic initiatives, particularly the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, which he described as a transformative project capable of opening new opportunities for investment, tourism, commerce and employment.
“This is the wisdom behind the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. This transformative infrastructure project will connect coastal communities. It will ease the movement of goods and people. It will expand tourism.
It will attract investors and create thousands of direct and indirect jobs. Our vision is for Cross River to become a major beneficiary of this economic revolution,” he said.
Shettima also disclosed that the Federal Government had approved and supported the Bakassi Deep Sea Port project, assuring that the administration would work towards making it an international maritime gateway.
He said the project, when completed, would attract shipping companies, stimulate industrial development, increase commercial activities and create employment opportunities for residents of the state and neighbouring communities.
The Vice-President further disclosed that the Federal Government had proposed locating the Gulf of Guinea Commission Secretariat in Calabar, a development he said would enhance the state’s international profile and attract diplomatic, commercial and tourism activities.
On the lingering dispute over 46 oil wells, Shettima assured Cross River residents that the Federal Government recognised the state’s littoral status and was committed to pursuing a resolution that would strengthen its maritime identity and expand opportunities in the blue economy.
He said a favourable resolution would open prospects for greater participation in maritime investment and potential derivation benefits.
On education, Shettima said Cross River was among the beneficiaries of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which he described as an important intervention to expand access to tertiary education, ease the financial burden on parents and prevent students from abandoning their studies because of financial difficulties.
He also highlighted Project HOPE Education, saying the initiative was designed to strengthen foundational learning, improve teacher development and school management, and expand access to quality education.
The Vice-President, however, acknowledged that the administration still had unfinished business, insisting that continuity must be accompanied by accountability and responsiveness to the concerns of Nigerians.
He said citizens should not be expected to abandon legitimate questions about government policies as a condition for supporting the administration, pledging that the government would continue to listen to households facing economic hardship, respond to neglected communities and address policies that failed to deliver the desired results.
Earlier, APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, urged Cross River residents to support the party at all levels in the 2027 elections, describing Tinubu as a leader whose reforms and infrastructure programmes deserved another mandate.
He cited the Federal Government’s support for the Bakassi Deep Sea Port, the planned resuscitation of Calabar Port and the Trans-Sahara Super Highway as projects that would enhance economic activities in the state.
In his welcome address, Governor Otu commended Tinubu for what he described as the courage and foresight demonstrated in steering the country through difficult economic conditions while pursuing sustainable development.
Otu listed the administration’s interventions in agriculture, education, industry and security, expressing confidence that the benefits of its policies would become more evident in the coming years.
He assured that Cross River residents would support Tinubu’s re-election, maintaining that the state was already experiencing the benefits of the administration’s reforms.
Similarly, Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, described Tinubu’s performance as deserving of a second term and dismissed suggestions that the North would not support his re-election.
The rally was attended by Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Governors Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, Monday Okpebholo of Edo and Hope Uzodimma of Imo State; members of the APC Presidential Campaign Council and other party leaders.
Earlier, Shettima paid a courtesy visit to the Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu, where he said the delegation had come to pay homage to the traditional institution and acquaint the monarch with the party’s aspirations ahead of the 2027 elections.
He commended the monarch for preserving the cultural heritage and values of the Efik people, describing his dedication as worthy of emulation by political leaders.
Governor Otu also sought the monarch’s blessings and support for the APC and the Tinubu administration.
Responding, the Obong thanked the delegation for the visit and urged political and traditional leaders, as well as residents, to promote unity and peaceful coexistence.
The monarch also commended Tinubu’s economic reforms, describing the President as a leader willing to take difficult decisions in pursuit of the country’s long-term development.
