By Yahaya Idris, Lafia
As debate over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid intensifies ahead of the 2027 general elections, Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada and Hon. Daniel Ogah Ogazi have defended the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration, arguing that its economic reforms and infrastructure investments should feature prominently in the assessment of its performance.
The two Nasarawa State political figures urged Nigerians, particularly voters in the North, to consider what they described as the administration’s achievements in infrastructure, education, healthcare and economic management before making political choices in 2027.
Their position emerged during a recent gathering at the Keffi Polo Ranch, where Senator Wadada, who represents Nasarawa West Senatorial District and is a frontline governorship aspirant, hosted three groups: his primary school classmates from the Class of 1979, elders from Keffi and members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
The meeting provided a platform for discussions on the Tinubu administration’s record, the removal of the petrol subsidy and the implications of federal economic policies for Nasarawa State and northern Nigeria.
Wadada: Tinubu’s Reforms Require More Time
Senator Wadada maintained that the APC-led Federal Government had recorded progress in infrastructure development, education and healthcare delivery during its first three years in office.
He argued that investments in road construction and efforts to improve security were helping to strengthen access to markets, trade and investment opportunities across parts of northern Nigeria.
According to him, the removal of the petrol subsidy, although controversial because of its economic consequences, should also be considered alongside the government’s broader reform agenda and long-term development objectives.
Wadada cited the rehabilitation and construction of roads linking different parts of the country, including routes connecting the North with Lagos, as evidence of what he described as the administration’s commitment to infrastructure development.
He also referenced the Sokoto-Badagry Highway and Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, two major projects promoted by the Federal Government as part of its nationwide infrastructure programme.
“Let us tell ourselves the truth. When you say the Tinubu administration inflicted hardship on us as northerners, don’t also forget that some roads which were mapped out for construction during the administration of former President Shehu Shagari were neglected until now,” he said.
The senator further argued that improved road connectivity could create opportunities for commerce and agricultural development, particularly if infrastructure investments were accompanied by effective security and access to irrigation.
He called on his former classmates, Keffi elders and the NURTW delegation to look beyond political sentiments when evaluating the administration’s record.
Wadada urged Nigerians to give the APC and President Tinubu another opportunity to continue their reform programme, insisting that the policies should be assessed against their intended long-term benefits.
Ogazi Links Subsidy Removal to Nasarawa’s Development
Also speaking at the gathering, Hon. Daniel Ogah Ogazi defended the removal of the petrol subsidy, describing it as a major policy decision with significant implications for government finances.
Ogazi argued that the former subsidy regime placed considerable pressure on public resources and maintained that its removal had increased the funds available to governments for infrastructure and other development priorities.
He specifically pointed to changes in Nasarawa State’s revenue position, contrasting the funds available to the state under the previous subsidy arrangement with the resources he said were now accessible to the government.
“I will not want to speak much on the achievements of the APC administration to avoid being seen as blowing my own trumpet because of seeking political position,” Ogazi said.
He recalled that during the period of subsidy payments, Nasarawa State received less than N5 billion, according to his account, adding that civil servants under the administration of former Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura had experienced salary payments in percentages.
Ogazi contrasted that period with the current administration of Governor Abdullahi Sule, claiming that workers and pensioners were now receiving their full salaries while federal allocations to the state had risen to approximately N24 billion.
He said the increased resources were being deployed towards infrastructure development and human capacity building.
However, the figures cited by Ogazi were not independently verified in the account of the event, and the comparison would require examination of the relevant revenue records, allocation periods and salary payment data to establish the full context.
Economic Reforms Remain a Key 2027 Campaign Issue
The defence of Tinubu’s administration by Wadada and Ogazi reflects a central debate likely to feature prominently in the run-up to the 2027 elections: whether the government’s economic reforms and infrastructure programme justify continued public support despite the financial pressures experienced by many households.
The removal of the petrol subsidy and changes to the foreign exchange system have been central to the administration’s economic agenda. Supporters argue that the policies are necessary to improve public finances and create room for investment, while critics point to higher living costs and the pressure on household purchasing power.
For Nasarawa State, the discussion also raises questions about how additional public revenue translates into measurable improvements in roads, schools, healthcare, employment and the welfare of workers and pensioners.
Wadada and Ogazi have made their position clear, presenting the APC administration’s policies and reported development projects as reasons Nigerians should consider its record ahead of the next presidential election.
Ultimately, the debate over a second term will extend beyond political endorsements to questions of implementation, accountability, economic outcomes and the extent to which citizens experience improvements in their daily lives.