By Kelechi Ugo
The Imo State Commissioner for Lands and Physical Planning, Hon. Barr. Enyinnaya Onuegbu, has accused opposition politicians of attempting to undermine the development agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through what he described as deliberate efforts to fuel insecurity and discredit the Federal Government.
Speaking in commemoration of Nigeria’s Democracy Day, Onuegbu called for sober reflection on the nation’s democratic journey and the current security challenges confronting the country.
According to him, as the nation gradually enters another election cycle following the release of the electoral timetable, some political actors who are desperate to regain power have resorted to tactics aimed at creating instability and eroding public confidence in the administration.
“We are entering the election season, and those who are anxious to grab power at all costs are playing their usual games by fostering insecurity and sponsoring sustained media attacks against the incumbent government, believing that the public will be persuaded that they can perform better,” he said.
The commissioner argued that many of the individuals leading the opposition today were part of previous administrations and should bear responsibility for many of Nigeria’s longstanding governance and economic challenges.
He maintained that President Tinubu inherited deep-rooted structural problems and has been working to place the country on a sustainable path of development, stressing that meaningful reforms cannot yield results overnight.
Onuegbu further alleged that vested interests benefiting from past economic arrangements, including what he termed “subsidy and infrastructure cabals,” were resisting ongoing reforms and spreading misinformation to frustrate government efforts.
Highlighting what he described as achievements of the current administration, the Commissioner pointed to the relative stability in the nation’s tertiary education sector, noting that universities have largely remained on their academic calendars without prolonged industrial actions by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
He also cited continued investor confidence and what he described as a more tolerant political atmosphere, claiming that opposition figures are no longer subjected to the kind of intimidation and politically motivated arrests witnessed in previous administrations.
According to him, the administration’s approach to governance and politics is anchored on democratic principles and respect for political opposition.
“The opposition is not interested in the progress of the country. Their primary objective is to regain the power they lost through the democratic process and restore the old order that benefited a privileged few,” he stated.
Onuegbu expressed confidence that Nigerians would continue to support the policies and programmes of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that the reforms being implemented by the Tinubu’s administration would ultimately yield long-term benefits for the country.
He urged citizens to remain steadfast in supporting democratic governance and to resist attempts to destabilize the nation for political gain.
