By Justus Adetomiwa, Ado-Ekiti
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the June 20 Ekiti State governorship election, Dr. Wole Oluyede, has urged Nigerians to make the 2027 presidential election a referendum on performance, continuity and national development rather than sentiment.
Oluyede, who is the convener of the Oluyede Progressive Alliance for Renewed Hope Agenda, OPARHA, urged Nigerians to assess the policies and reforms of President Bola Tinubu-led administration and give him another term to consolidate ongoing projects and programmes.
He made the call in a statement made available to journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday.
The PDP chieftain said that Nigeria could not afford to abandon long-term economic and infrastructure policies of the present administration, arguing that such reforms required time to mature and deliver their full benefits.
He said that the country was moving in the right direction, adding that the foundation being laid by the Tinubu administration deserved to be consolidated.
Oluyede said Nigerians should support Tinubu for a second term, which, according to him, should focus on “continuity, consolidation, completion and delivery of greater benefits to the Nigerian people.”
He said, “The 2027 presidential election should not be a referendum on sentiment. It should be a referendum on direction, performance and continuity.
“It should be a referendum on what we have achieved, what remains to be done and who has the capacity to take Nigeria from reform to prosperity.”
Oluyede urged Nigerians to consider whether they wanted to continue building on the foundation laid by the current administration or return to what he described as a cycle of starting afresh.
He said, “Nigeria cannot afford to keep starting all over again. We have spent decades discussing infrastructure deficits, economic restructuring and diversification.
“Now that significant steps are being taken in these areas, we should be asking how to improve them and make them work better for Nigerians.”
The former PDP governorship candidate also commended the Federal Government’s infrastructure drive, citing the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Highway, the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway and the East-West Road among strategic projects capable of transforming the nation’s economy.
He said the importance of the projects went beyond the construction of roads, describing them as economic corridors capable of connecting farmers with markets, manufacturers with consumers and workers with opportunities.
He stressed that reducing the time and cost of moving people and goods would improve productivity and create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
He, however, called on the Federal Government to strengthen maintenance systems, ensure transparency in project execution and enforce construction standards to ensure the sustainability of the infrastructure being developed.
Oluyede said that the next phase of the Tinubu administration should focus increasingly on translating macro-economic reforms and infrastructure investments into tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians.
He listed job creation, food security, affordable healthcare, education, electricity, transportation and support for small and medium-sized businesses among areas that should receive sustained attention.
He said increased government revenue and improved investor confidence should ultimately translate into better public services and greater economic opportunities for Nigerians.
The OPARHA convener stressed the need for stability, policy consistency and sustained investment to enable the country to reap the full benefits of its ongoing economic and infrastructure reforms.
He said, “Let us disagree politically, but let us not disagree with development. Let us demand accountability, but let us also recognise progress where we see it.
“Let us correct the mistakes, address the hardship and strengthen the reforms. But let us not throw away the opportunity to build on the foundation that has already been laid.”