Why I’m leading President Tinubu’s re-election movement in S’East – Aniebo

By Dickson Okafor

Chief Elvis Aniebo, Zonal Coordinator of Renewed Hope Grassroots Movement (RHGM) South-East Chapter and Patron of Dynamic Youth Organisation of Nigeria (DYON) has given reasons why he is leading President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election movement in South-East in 2027.

He speaks about other issues of interest.

Excerpts:

What inspired you to join Renewed Hope Grassroots Movement, an organisation for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 when Peter Obi is also vying for the same position?

Actually, in 2023, I supported the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi because of his endearing manifesto. This time because of obvious reasons Renewed Hope Grassroots Movement (RHGM) have decided to throw its weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027. The main reason we are backing Tinubu is for the South to complete its eight years. After a thorough scrutiny   of his performance within three years in office, we found out that he has the capacity and he is equal to the task of navigating the country through its challenges. He is competent and an astute administrator. Renewed Hope Grassroots Movement have decided to support Tinubu because he is the only politician in the South that has the capacity, resources and popularity to retain power in 2027. With Atiku in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) who may likely be the flagbearer in 2027, we need a strong force to contain him. And Tinubu is his match and with our support, he will emerge victorious in 2027. Today, I join South-East governors, stakeholders and APC leaders to endorse Tinubu for a second term in order for him to deliver democratic dividends to Nigerians.     

Don’t you think it will be a difficult task to market Tinubu’s re-election in the South-East region because of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s conviction and the Peter Obi factor?

All these were factored in by the founder and National Coordinator of Renewed Hope Grassroots Movement (RHGM), Amb. Isaac Chigozie Udeh with all the zonal coordinators of the six geopolitical zones. It is the more reason we endorsed President Tinubu for a second term. Also, the governors of the South-East, leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and critical stakeholders from the region after wide consultation have formally endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term ahead of the 2027 general election, so we have declared our resolve to mobilise massive bloc votes for him across the zone. By all ramification, South-East supposed to produce the president in 2023 and we tried our best to ensure Peter Obi was victorious, but with the overwhelming support of the North, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu won. However, Tinubu’s remarkable performance in the last two and half years inspired us to support his re-election for continuity. Meanwhile, political negotiation is ongoing for the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to be released. Tinubu has a strong political structure spread across the country; he has enough resources and contacts, both local and international that can influence his victory.

But the people of South-East always vote according to their conscience, don’t you think they may not align with your movement in 2027?

No region can win the presidential election without going into alliance with major political gladiators and stakeholders in the other geopolitical zones. And that is exactly what Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu did in 2013 when he joined to form APC with Congress for Progressive Change, All Progressive Grand Alliance and the New PDP. And that was how APC was birth under the platform that produced Tinubu as the president in 2023 after he supported late President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 and 2019. The South-East must deliver bloc votes to President Tinubu in 2027 to belong to the ruling party. Because you can become Nigeria’s President through alliance, negotiation and not only through being popular. So, we are working to ensure that South-East re-elects Tinubu in 2027. This becomes vital because if we must support the North in 2031, this must be in agreement that after the North and power comes back to South, it will be the turn of Igbo. This is the bitter truth which we must accept.

Recently, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse 111, issued a strong warning to oil companies operating in Itsekiri communities and Niger Delta area to stop neglect, marginalisation of the communities and its people, why hasn’t FG and NNPC compel oil companies to do the needful?

It is unfortunate that after late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s intervention in the Niger Delta crisis through amnesty, the oil companies operating in the region hasn’t been able to sanitise the communities from environmental pollution and neglect. The region that produces the golden egg is drastically been marginalised by these oil companies. Government understands the complexities of Niger Delta region and national broader interests. Virtually all the militant leaders are today billionaires and political contractors to any government in power. And that is why His Majesty the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse 111, recently issued a strong warning to Chevron and other oil companies operating not only in Itsekiri land, but in other communities in the Niger Delta that ‘peace without justice is no longer sustainable’ due to decades of neglect, marginalisation, and poverty in Itsekiri and other oil-producing communities. As Nigeria continues to grapple with democratic deficits, perhaps it is time the people must demonstrate a readiness to keep their leaders on their toes. So, it is not a matter of electing new leaders when the people are not ready to hold them accountable because of mere sentiment. The people of Niger Delta have to free themselves from political mistrust and selfish interest by their leaders before real development can come. As we approach next general election, the people in the region should join hands with their present leaders to re-elect President Tinubu in 2027. Recently, the cleaning of Ogoni land has commenced. In politics one can swallow his words and dance to the tune of reality as far as is for the interest of the people. Environmental degradation in Niger Delta has remain a great challenge to previous administration, but today a lot of changes has been carried out in NNPC, hence, the era when their leaders are willing to do everything for money, but not willing to do anything for their people is over. Democracy thrives on choice not by force.

Many have expressed concerns over US’ support to end killing of Nigerian Christians in the North. Their fear is that the United States interest is Nigeria’s oil which they claim is the economic interest of Donald Trump going by what he is doing in Venezuela. Could this be an agreement between Donald Trump and Tinubu to gain America’s support in 2027?

We all know that the United States of America or any of the super powers cannot show concern or intervene with military action in favour of any nation without having economic interest. However, the security situation in Nigeria calls for foreign assistance. But to say that President Tinubu allowed the United States to help Nigeria eliminate terrorists who are killing innocent citizens in order to gain President Donald Trump’s support for second term is not true. In a bid to strengthen the security of the country, the government of the United States, few days ago delivered critical military supplies to the Federal Government through the United States Africa Command, otherwise known as AFRICOM. The delivery is to support Nigeria’s ongoing operations in line with security partnership between the United States and Nigeria. Don’t forget that Nigeria’s democracy is running smoothly because of rotation of power between North and South at the inception of the present political dispensation from 1999 till date. Again, Tinubu is a true politician, a democrat and also a technocrat. He knows how to play politics without bitterness and how to run an all- inclusive government. That is the reason for the recent gale of defections because Tinubu is a political promise keeper. So far, with his remarkable achievements, Nigerians will elect Tinubu for second term.