Oshiomhole Urges Edo Residents To Give Tinubu Second Chance, Says Power Sector Reform Will Revive Manufacturing

The Deputy Director-General of the Tinubu Presidential Campaign Council and former Governor of Edo State, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, has called on the people of Edo State to give President Bola Ahmed Tinubu another four-year mandate, expressing confidence that the next phase of the Renewed Hope Agenda will deliver far-reaching reforms in Nigeria's power sector and stimulate industrial growth.

Oshiomhole made the appeal on Thursday at the Benin Township Stadium during the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in support of President Tinubu's re-election bid.

Speaking before a large gathering of party supporters, the former Edo State governor stressed that reliable electricity remains fundamental to economic transformation, particularly the revival of Nigeria's manufacturing sector, job creation and improved productivity.

He criticised previous administrations for failing to address the country's electricity challenges, alleging that flawed billing arrangements and the shortcomings of electricity distribution companies contributed to the persistent power crisis.

Recounting his experience as governor, Oshiomhole said he committed substantial government resources to purchasing transformers to support electricity distribution companies, only for the investments to become the property of the distribution companies without any corresponding improvement in electricity supply.

He said: "Being a pharmacist and the wife of a former banker, between the two they destroyed our power delivery system. They introduced a flawed billing system. I spent a dozen government money to buy transformers to support these distribution companies, and yet once you do it, it became their property and they never gave us light."

However, Oshiomhole urged Nigerians not to remain focused on the failures of previous administrations, insisting that President Tinubu's manifesto contains a clear commitment to radically reform the electricity sector in the next phase of his administration.

According to him, the proposed reforms will unlock the productive potential of Nigerians, improve electricity supply and create an enabling environment for manufacturing businesses to expand.

"The good news is not to lament what they failed to do. The good news is to assure you in the manifesto, written black and white by the President, the next phase will ensure that power is radically reformed.

"When there is power, a lot of people are resourceful. So I think with the power reform, the Nigerian economy will change, the manufacturing sector will come up, and every other thing will be fine. We just need to create jobs. We need to reinforce distribution of the gains of the reforms," he stated.

The APC campaign leadership believes that sustained economic reforms, improved electricity delivery and deliberate efforts to expand employment opportunities will be critical to consolidating the gains of the Tinubu administration.

Oshiomhole's message at the Benin rally was therefore a call for continuity, urging Edo residents and Nigerians at large to support President Tinubu for a second term and give his administration the opportunity to deepen its reforms and address longstanding structural challenges.

The APC maintains that the Renewed Hope Agenda represents a long-term commitment to economic recovery, industrial development, job creation and shared prosperity for Nigerians.