The All Progressives Congress (APC) has defended President Bola Tinubu over his campaign promises to tackle poverty and hunger.
According to the party, he never set a specific deadline for eradicating poverty in Nigeria.
The ruling party urged Nigerians to assess Tinubu’s performance at the end of his eight-year tenure, arguing that poverty reduction, job creation and economic growth are long-term objectives that cannot necessarily be achieved within a few years.
The APC spokesperson, Felix Morka, stated this on Tuesday during an interview on ARISE News, while responding to questions about Tinubu’s promises during the 2023 presidential campaign.
Morka maintained that the president did not promise to eliminate poverty within his first 100 days, two years or three years in office, arguing that campaign commitments should be assessed as continuing objectives rather than immediate achievements.
“When a president or anybody who is campaigning for office gives, you know, campaign speeches and sets objectives, they are liable to progressive realisation. They are not an event,” Morka said.
He insisted that Nigerians should consider the context in which Tinubu made his campaign promises instead of expecting the administration to achieve every objective within a short period.
“The president never told you that in the first month or 100 days of my government or in the first two years or three years, I’m going to eradicate poverty. You didn’t say that in what you just read out. So, you know, let’s frame this in proper perspective,” he said.
The APC spokesperson also cited the constitutional provision allowing a president to seek re-election for a second four-year term, arguing that the opportunity to serve two terms provides room for elected leaders to develop and implement long-term policies.
“There’s a reason the Constitution gave every elected president the possibility of a re-election. Four years in the first instance and a possibility if the citizens, the electorate, decide to re-elect that president to serve another four years. There’s a reason for that,” Morka said.
According to him, the first term allows a president to understand the country’s challenges, establish priorities and begin implementing policies, while a second term provides an opportunity to consolidate those efforts.
He also questioned the demand for a specific timeline for fulfilling Tinubu’s campaign promises, including a pledge to create one million jobs in the digital economy.
“I am surprised you’re asking me to give you a timeline. You were the one who came to say this president has not met or fulfilled the promises he made. You’re the one who said the time was too short,” he said.
Morka added that Nigerians could hold the president accountable for his performance at the end of his tenure.
“At the end of eight years, you can, you can come here and have this conversation,” he said.
The APC’s position comes amid renewed political debate over the rising cost of living, hunger, unemployment and the economic difficulties facing many Nigerians under Tinubu’s administration.
Days earlier, Tinubu had blamed his political opponents, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Nigerian Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi, for the hunger and poverty in the country.
The president made the remarks on Saturday at the APC presidential campaign flag-off rally at Ranchers Bees Stadium, also known as Kaduna Township Stadium, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at the rally, Tinubu argued that previous administrations had contributed to the economic difficulties Nigerians were experiencing, while maintaining that his government was working to address them.
“I have an argument. I hear my opponent talking about hunger, poverty. Who created it? They did! They created the hunger, they created the poverty. We are trying to eradicate it,” the president said.
Tinubu also defended his administration’s record on salary payments and praised state governors for their efforts to develop their respective states.
“We pay salaries regularly. Our governors are working. I am proud of them. They are developing,” he said.
The president thanked Kaduna residents for supporting him during the 2023 presidential election, saying their votes contributed to his victory.
“You gave me joy to remember the victory you gave me to become president. I come again to thank you,” he said.
He subsequently appealed to Nigerians to support his bid for another term, promising to continue pursuing prosperity, continuity, progress and development.