Vice President Kashim Shettima has told Nigerians that the most painful stage of the Tinubu administration’s economic reset has ended, promising that a second term would bring visible benefits to citizens as he sought votes for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket in the 2027 elections.
Shettima has declared that the difficult phase of the economic reforms carried out by President Bola Tinubu’s administration is over, saying the next term will focus on delivering the rewards of those sacrifices.
Speaking on Monday at the APC presidential campaign rally in Calabar, Cross River State, Shettima asked residents to back the re-election of President Tinubu, Governor Bassey Edet Otu and other APC candidates in the 2027 general elections, describing them as trustworthy friends of the people.
He argued that no rival party has the capacity to change the direction of the nation’s economy, adding that the administration had already completed the hardest part of the reset.
“We are confident of this promise to deliver for this nation because we have already done the most difficult job of economic reset. None of the other options available has the capacity to move the needle of the economy. We have rescued the economy, and the road ahead is one of harvest. This second term is one of harvest, for you and all Nigerians,” he said.
The Vice President, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media & Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, appealed for a renewed mandate for President Tinubu and himself, as well as another term for Governor Otu and his deputy, Hon. Peter Odey.
Shettima said the APC and Nigerians are bound together by an alliance for progress, prosperity, opportunity and dignity, stressing that the people are the purpose of governance.
He added that authority belongs to the people and that those who hold it must return with an account of their stewardship and a programme worthy of further trust.
He praised the Cross River APC for keeping its house in order and becoming a model of unity and discipline, noting that this had produced diligence in government.
On infrastructure, Shettima said the administration resolved from its first days in office in 2023 to open up Cross River to the world, which led to the Lagos to Calabar Coastal Highway project.
According to him, the road will connect coastal communities, ease the movement of goods and people, boost tourism, attract investors and create thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
He also said the Federal Government has approved and is supporting the Bakassi Deep Sea Port, which he described as a future international maritime gateway that will draw shipping companies, generate jobs and stimulate industrial development.
The Vice President added that proposing Calabar as the seat of the Gulf of Guinea Commission Secretariat would raise the state’s international profile and stimulate hospitality, tourism and commerce.
Shettima assured the state that the Federal Government recognises Cross River’s littoral status and acknowledges its efforts to resolve the dispute over 46 oil wells. He said the government is ready to see the matter resolved, which would strengthen the state’s maritime identity and open up opportunities in the blue economy, maritime investment and potential derivation benefits.
On education, he said Cross River is well represented in the disbursement of funds by NELFUND, which he said relieves parents, keeps young people in school and widens access to higher education.
He said no parent should watch a child’s abilities go unfulfilled because of lack of money, and that the initiative aligns with Project HOPE Education.
Insisting that much work remains, the Vice President called for continuity with scrutiny, saying citizens should never have to give up their questions in order to show support.
He promised that the government would listen when households speak of hardship, act when communities identify neglect and correct what fails the public.
Earlier, APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentanwe Yilwatda, urged Cross River residents to support the party at all levels, describing President Tinubu as a change agent who deserves re-election.
He cited the consolidation of the deep seaport project, the revival of the Calabar Port and the Trans-Sahara Superhighway among the reasons.
In his welcome address, Governor Otu praised the President’s courage and foresight in leading Nigeria through a difficult period. Pointing to policies in agriculture, education, industry and security, he assured that Cross River people would unanimously ensure Tinubu’s re-election, adding that the benefits of the reforms were already emerging.
The Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Sen. Abdulaziz Yari said the President had performed creditably and deserved a second term.
He dismissed rumours that northern Nigeria would not support the re-election bid.
Before the rally, the Vice President paid a courtesy visit to the Obong of Calabar, His Eminence Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu, to brief him on the party’s aspirations in the 2027 elections and to pay homage to the traditional institution.
He commended the paramount ruler for preserving the cultural heritage and virtues of the Efik nation, which he said political leaders across the country should emulate.
Governor Otu sought royal blessings and support for the APC and the Federal Government under President Tinubu.
The Obong thanked his guests and said the visit marked the beginning of greater unity among traditional rulers in the state.
He urged peaceful coexistence among the people and praised the Tinubu administration for the courage to undertake difficult reforms with long-term benefits.
Also at the rally were Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Governors Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, Monday Okpebholo of Edo and Hope Uzodinma of Imo; members of the APC Presidential Campaign Council; and party leaders from Cross River, the South-South and beyond.
