Unprecedented Political Consensus Behind Tinubu’s Re-election Bid – Soludo

Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has described the broad political support expressed for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council as an unusual development in Nigeria’s democratic history.

Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja on Wednesday, October 14, Soludo said the gathering reflected what he regarded as an unprecedented level of political and elite consensus around a sitting President, particularly given the participation of governors and political stakeholders from different party backgrounds.

In a report compiled by the Media and Publicity Team of the Forum of Chief Executives of Federal Parastatals (FORCEPA), Soludo’s address was highlighted for its emphasis on cross-party cooperation, economic policy and the relationship between political leadership and national development.

The Anambra Governor, who was elected on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), explained that his party’s support for Tinubu was anchored on shared interests in national unity, security and economic prosperity.

Soludo drew attention to the number of governors associated with the gathering, describing the participation of approximately 31 state governors as evidence of an unusually broad political alignment. His observation concerned the political support expressed at the event and should not be confused with a formal endorsement by every governor or every Nigerian voter.

The former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria also used the occasion to discuss the economic philosophy underpinning the Tinubu administration’s policies. Drawing on his background as an economist, Soludo described the administration’s approach as _pragmatic progressivism_, suggesting that the President’s economic decisions reflected a willingness to confront structural challenges rather than postpone difficult policy choices.

According to Soludo, the administration inherited an economy facing significant pressures and had embarked on reforms intended to move the country from instability towards recovery and sustainable prosperity.

He credited Tinubu’s understanding of public finance with influencing the direction of the reforms, arguing that the President’s decisions should be assessed in the context of the structural economic problems confronting Nigeria before and after his assumption of office.

While supporters of the administration have pointed to macroeconomic adjustments and reform initiatives as signs of progress, critics have questioned the pace at which the benefits of those policies are reaching ordinary Nigerians. Soludo nevertheless maintained that the administration’s approach reflected a commitment to addressing long-standing economic challenges and laying the foundation for future growth.