Tinubu’s reform agenda is more convincing than Obi’s and Atiku’s, claims Okupe
Dr. Doyin Okupe, a former Labour Party leader and onetime spokesman for ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has commended President Bola Tinubu’s reform plans, deeming them the most credible among those presented by the 2023 presidential candidates.
Assessing Tinubu’s agenda, Okupe admitted that although he didn’t support Tinubu during the election and they weren’t allies or party members, he now sees Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” as effectively tackling Nigeria’s current challenges.
“Tinubu’s policy document surpasses those of his two main rivals in the 2023 presidential election,” he said. Okupe acknowledged Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party as an experienced and knowledgeable politician with a substantial plan. However, he argued that Atiku’s proposals weren’t practical for the country’s existing situation, as they depended on theoretical solutions like securing international loans—unfeasible given that no financial institutions were willing to lend to Nigeria by the end of Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
He pointed out that if such loans were available, Buhari wouldn’t have resorted to printing money in his final days in office. Regarding Peter Obi of the Labour Party, Okupe noted that Obi didn’t present a concrete policy document. The party lacked a detailed plan beyond the rhetoric of transforming Nigeria from a consumption-based to a production-driven economy, without grounded policy development or practical application.
Okupe praised Tinubu for confirming the removal of fuel subsidies—a move initiated under Buhari—immediately upon taking office. He also lauded Tinubu’s swift actions to address issues in the foreign exchange market, where certain individuals were exploiting the system through connections at the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Highlighting further achievements, Okupe mentioned Tinubu’s implementation of student loans and consumer protection programs aimed at systematically supporting low-income earners. He recalled that Tinubu paid off debts that were threatening to cripple the nation’s economy and established a committee to reform tax policies, all in line with his agenda.
“This leader has a systematic, reliable, focused, and applicable agenda that can elevate Nigeria to admirable heights,” Okupe concluded. He emphasized that Tinubu’s clear and impactful approach addresses the nation’s pressing issues more effectively than the plans proposed by his opponents.
