Dr. George Agbakahi, Southeast Leader of the Tinubu Support Organisation, says President Bola Amed Tinubu is winning increasing support across the region, driven by industrialisation projects, infrastructure development, and government funding that benefits thousands of enterprises and youths.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Friday, Agbakahi highlighted how the APC and Tinubu support groups are working collectively to consolidate political support in the Southeast ahead of the 2027 elections. “First of all, the Tinubu support organisation, City Boys, Renewed Hope, and so many support groups, you know, in this particular 2020 election. We all have a common goal, we have a common interest, which is the re-election of President Bula and the Tinubu. So just forget the nomenclature. We are all working collectively for the president and the APC to win this election.”
He emphasised that the Southeast is correcting past electoral mistakes and increasingly backing Tinubu. “Chances in the southeast, you see, politics is very dynamic and it is becoming clearer and clearer. The president of this great country, President Bola has the support of majority of Nigerians. We in the southeast believe that we made a huge mistake, you know, in the last election 2023. So we now know the place to go. The place to go is APC. Majority of southeasterners, they believe in APC.”
Agbakahi described the enthusiasm at recent APC zonal congresses in Enugu. “If you were in Enugu two days ago during the zonal congresses, it was filled with enthusiasm, it was filled with joy. You know, too many stakeholders, too many party faithful, even non-party, non-APC members attended that event. It was an awesome one. You know, the president has done a whole lot for Nigerians and more especially in the southeast. Are you talking about the road construction? Are you talking about industrialisation? You know, he has done a whole lot. That’s why you see some governors, for example, Governor Soludo, he’s supporting President Bola even though he’s an Afghan. You know, Governor Oti of Abia State has said this publicly, you know, that his policies are truly interwoven with that of Mr. President. The president has done a whole lot in the area of industrialisation. You know, a lot is going on. You know fully well the establishment, No, no, land on your point. The establishment of the Southeast Investment Council with 150 billion Naira takeoff. That’s already, people in the southeast, traders, manufacturers, they are already benefiting from it. You know, the establishment of the Southeast Development Commission is already closing the gaps in terms of infrastructure development in the southeast.”
On Aba’s manufacturing hub and industrial policy, he said, “I was listening to the governor of Abia State, Oti, in one commentary. He said that Aba has over 60,000 shoe manufacturers, garment manufacturers. All these are to the glory of the industrial policy of the current administration. That’s what you see happening. And you’re talking of employment, employment. You see, the President is not only concerned about blue-collar jobs, we are looking at sustainable development, sustainable employment. Many people are employed. Like I told you, Smedan is a government parastata. 200 billion Naira has been invested in Smedan. Many people are benefiting, you know, from these loans from Smedan. You know, look at the youth investment of 150 billion. Many youths, especially from Southeast, are also benefiting from all these largessees from government.”
He cited government funding and youth investment as key drivers of sustainable employment. “You know very well the establishment. The establishment of the Southeast Investment Council with 150 billion Naira takeoff. That’s already, people in the southeast, traders, manufacturers, they are already benefiting from it. You know, the establishment of the Southeast Development Commission is already closing the gaps in terms of infrastructure development in the southeast. You know very well, I think I’ve really discussed, you know, this particular statement by Mr. President, The Bank of Industry, the Bank of Industry brought 636 billion naira, you know, which has gone, you know, to medium-sized industries, to large manufacturers, to small-scale industries, you know. MSME brought 178 billion naira. I’m telling you that some of the people in the Southeast, particularly in Aba, have benefited. So it’s exciting to share these figures around money’s released. But let’s talk about, I mean, you’re from the Southeast, jobs created, businesses started, MSME supported, because these are the things, these are the outcomes we’re looking at, not just the fact that money has been released, announcements made, Many people are employed. Like I told you, Smedan is a government parastata. 200 billion Naira has been invested in Smedan. Many people, you know, are benefiting, you know, from these loans from Smedan. You know, look at the youth investment of 150 billion. Many youths, especially from Southeast, are also benefiting from all these largessees from government.”
Agbakahi clarified the 7,000 enterprises claim. “it’s quite clear, Minister of Trade and Investment, you did it. Go and Google it. Let me tell you what they said. Let me tell you what they said. They didn’t say 7,000 new enterprises sprung up. They talked about over 636 billion, you know, being spread across 7,000 enterprises across the nation. So they are pre-existing. There are no new enterprises that sprung up. So your data set was false. Secondly, you have not given us the data. We are not saying the same thing. This data is saying that it was dispersed across pre-existing 7,000 enterprises. So they are pre-existing. There are no new enterprises that sprung up.”
He stressed that Tinubu’s policies are not only generating blue-collar jobs but also promoting long-term development. “You’re talking of employment, the President is not only concerned about blue-collar jobs, we are looking at sustainable development, sustainable employment. Many people are employed. Like I told you, Smedan is a government parastata. 200 billion Naira has been invested in Smedan. Many people, you know, are benefiting, you know, from these loans from Smedan. You know, look at the youth investment of 150 billion. Many youths, especially from Southeast, are also benefiting from all these largessees from government.”
Agbakahi also highlighted collaboration among Southeast support groups. “So just forget the nomenclature. We are all working collectively for the president and the APC to win this election. So there is no particular group that is threatened. You know, we talk to them, we liaise with them, they liaise with us. That is what you see.”
Erizia Rubyjeana
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