By Lukmon Akintola
Enugu politician Simon Oshi has defended President Bola Tinubu’s call for policy continuity, arguing that Nigeria’s economic and structural challenges require more than one four-year term to address.
Simon Oshi said the country should allow Tinubu to complete an eight-year tenure, maintaining that frequent changes in leadership could disrupt the implementation of policies designed to reshape the economy.
Speaking with journalists, Simon Oshi acknowledged the economic difficulties facing Nigerians but argued that the administration’s reform programme should be assessed over a longer period rather than by its immediate effects.
He said Nigeria’s political structure, which involves different interests across the federal and state governments, the National Assembly and political parties, often slows the implementation of major policy decisions.
According to Simon Oshi, even a president with executive authority must work through legislative processes to secure approval for policies requiring new laws or amendments to existing legislation.
“As the President, yes, you are the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, but everything and almost anything you still want to do, you have to pass the bill through the Senate,” Simon Oshi said.
Simon Oshi drew an analogy from the biblical account of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt, saying the journey involved resistance and took time before the people could leave.
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He said the experience illustrated the difficulties associated with major transitions, adding that Tinubu would also need time to navigate competing interests and secure the support required to implement his agenda.
Tinubu assumed office in May 2023 and has introduced major economic measures, including the removal of petrol subsidy and reforms to the foreign exchange market. The policies have generated significant debate, particularly over their effects on household incomes and the cost of living.
Simon Oshi maintained that the reforms should be given time to produce their intended outcomes, arguing that continuity would allow the administration to consolidate its policy direction.
His position is consistent with his support for Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, as he called on Nigerians to consider the administration’s longer-term plans alongside the economic pressures currently facing households.
Simon Oshi also spoke about Abia State Governor Alex Otti, whom he identified as a possible presidential contender from the Southeast in 2031.
He said Otti’s administration could provide an example of how leadership, hard work and continuity could shape governance, while stressing that voters should assess public office holders based on their records and visible achievements rather than party affiliation.
Simon Oshi urged Nigerians to consider continuity in the 2027 election, arguing that a second term would give Tinubu more time to pursue the policies already introduced by his administration.
