Dr Abass Mimiko, the Zenith Labour Party governorship candidate in the 2024 Ondo State election, has said President Bola Tinubu deserves a second term in office, citing what he described as progress made by the administration in addressing Nigeria’s economic challenges.
Mimiko made the statement on Sunday while speaking with journalists in Ondo Town, Ondo State. He argued that the Tinubu administration inherited serious economic difficulties from the previous government and had taken difficult decisions, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy.
According to Mimiko, the economic conditions confronting the country when Tinubu assumed office in 2023 included high debt-service obligations, widespread insecurity and substantial expenditure on fuel subsidies.
He argued that the removal of the subsidy, although difficult for Nigerians, was necessary to address structural problems within the economy.
Mimiko said Nigerians should assess the administration’s reforms by considering what the country’s economic situation might have looked like had the government not taken some of the difficult decisions.
He maintained that Tinubu had made efforts to stabilise an economy he described as being close to collapse when the President took over from former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“I think he’s done well,” Mimiko said, while arguing that the President should be given more time to consolidate the reforms.
The former governorship candidate, however, said the Federal Government should not bear responsibility for every economic hardship experienced by Nigerians. He particularly called for greater accountability from state governors over the resources available to them.
Mimiko said governors had a responsibility to ensure that increased allocations to states translated into improved living conditions, infrastructure and social services.
He also identified food production as an important area requiring attention, arguing that addressing hunger would help tackle several other challenges confronting the country.
He urged the Federal Government to find effective ways of ensuring that states use their resources to increase food production, rather than concentrating spending on projects that may have less direct impact on citizens.
The ZLP chieftain’s comments came as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, with politicians and political groups increasingly declaring their positions on the next presidential contest.
Despite his support for Tinubu, Mimiko said he remained a member of the Zenith Labour Party and did not intend to join the All Progressives Congress.
He also disclosed plans to work towards establishing what he called the One Love Coalition, a platform intended to mobilise Nigerians outside the APC in support of Tinubu’s second-term bid.
According to Mimiko, the proposed coalition would not be established to seek political appointments or government patronage but to mobilise support around what he considers continuity of the administration’s reforms.
Beyond the 2027 presidential contest, Mimiko advocated restructuring and greater devolution of powers to state and local governments. He argued that strengthening governance at subnational levels could bring government closer to citizens.
He also commented on education in Ondo State, urging Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to prioritise existing tertiary institutions instead of establishing new ones.
Mimiko expressed concern over the reported movement of lecturers from institutions including Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, the Federal Polytechnic, Owo, and the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo.
He argued that improving working conditions and providing incentives for academic staff should be prioritised if the state wants to maintain the quality of its higher education system.
Mimiko’s endorsement of Tinubu therefore came alongside criticism of how resources are managed at both federal and state levels, as well as calls for restructuring and increased investment in education.
The 2027 presidential election is expected to feature competing candidates and coalitions, with political parties and interest groups already mobilising supporters across the country. Mimiko’s declaration adds another publicly stated position to the growing political debate over the direction of the country after 2027.
