Jonathan’s community leaders back Tinubu for second term

Leaders of Ogbia Kingdom in Bayelsa and Rivers states have asked President Bola Tinubu to contest the 2027 presidential election, pledging their full support for his re-election.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to the president at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday, Collins Daniel, a traditional ruler, pledged the kingdom’s unalloyed support for the president’s efforts at building a greater Nigeria.

Samuel Ogbuku, managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), led the delegation to the State House.

The traditional ruler said the support for Tinubu’s second term is a show of appreciation for his inclusive leadership and development interventions in the Niger Delta.

“In light of the above, it is our firm belief that Mr President has done us well, and as such, we cannot help but reciprocate your kind gesture by inviting Mr President to contest the next presidential election,” he said.

“You have the full support of the Ogbia Kingdom. Mr President, we are behind you.”

He said the visit was to appreciate the president’s leadership style and the confidence reposed in sons and daughters of Ogbia through key national appointments.

“We have come first and foremost to express our heartfelt appreciation for your inclusive leadership and the confidence you have reposed in our sons and daughters through their recent appointments and re-appointments into key national positions,” the traditional ruler said.

He described the appointments as “a powerful affirmation of our people’s faith in your administration”.

Those acknowledged include Moore Abraham Aseima Adumein, justice of the supreme court; Samuel Ogbuku, managing director of the NDDC; Tonye Okio, federal character commission commissioner representing Bayelsa; and Fernandez Marcus-Obiene, special assistant to the president on justice reform and ICT/digital and innovative technology.

He said the Ogbia leaders commended the performance of the NDDC under Ogbuku, noting that communities across the kingdom and the wider Niger Delta had witnessed “unprecedented infrastructural and human capital development” since his appointment on August 29, 2023.

“Suffice it to say that virtually every community in Ogbia Kingdom and in the Niger Delta now enjoys solar lights at night, which has significantly illuminated the Niger Delta and boosted economic activities,” he added.

He noted that the interventions had “to a large extent curbed insecurity in the Kingdom and the entire region”.

He listed road construction, ecological projects, upgraded health facilities and youth empowerment programmes, including Project HOPE in technology, agriculture, arts and green energy, as part of the NDDC’s achievements.

“Your appointment of Dr Samuel Ogbuku sends a clear message of your confidence in indigenous leadership and reinforces the trust of the Niger Delta people in your Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.

Daniel commended the president for the federal projects in the area, which he listed to include the Oloibiri oil museum and research centre, the rehabilitation of the Ogbia section of the Ogbia–Nembe–Brass road, and the construction of the Otuogori–Otuegwe bridge along the Ekole river.

He described Ogbia as “the cradle of Nigeria’s oil industry”, noting that crude oil was first discovered in commercial quantity in the community in 1956.

Beyond oil, the visitors cited the 1959 pre-independence political alliance led by Melford Okilo and the 2015 concession of defeat by the former President Goodluck Jonathan as sacrifices for national unity.

“Those critical moments clearly demonstrated that the people of Ogbia have consistently believed in, and sacrificed for, one indivisible Nigeria. Our contributions to the Nigerian project have been profound and enduring,” he said.

He noted that the kingdom deserved greater attention and development support, presenting requests, including the establishment of an institute of energy and petroleum studies in Ogbia, partnership on the Akaba–Emadike road, and shoreline protection for coastal communities threatened by erosion.

He assured the president of the loyalty and support of the people of the kingdom, inviting him to visit the Ogbia.

“May God Almighty continue to grant you wisdom, strength and good health as you steer the affairs of our great nation,” he said.

Responding, Tinubu assured the delegation that his administration would work closely with Niger Delta indigenes in government, particularly the managing director of the NDDC, to deepen development efforts.

“We cannot excuse the neglect of the past, but living in the past will do us no good, except to take it and run with it now, carefully,” the president said.