Human rights activist Dr. Ogaga Ifowodo has declared that, despite the current economic hardship facing Nigerians, he would still endorse President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in office. He made this known during an exclusive interview with Rudolf Okonkwo on 90MinutesAfrica, where he defended his continued support for the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to him, his endorsement of the former Lagos State governor is rooted in his belief that the Tinubu administration has undertaken significant structural reforms. Reforms long advocated by members of the pro-democracy movement, and he was a key participant alongside the president. He specifically cited the push for local government autonomy and the removal of electricity generation from the exclusive legislative list, measures he said align with longstanding demands for true federalism.
He also noted that the president is actively pursuing the establishment of state policing in collaboration with the National Assembly, describing it as a critical step toward addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.
The award-winning poet maintained that his support would only change if alternative candidates offered a programme demonstrably better than what the current administration has achieved or has the potential to achieve.
“Before I can change my mind from supporting President Tinubu’s reelection, I have to be convinced that the other candidates have a programme that is better than what Tinubu has done or can still do. As of today, I haven’t seen any such programme from any of the other potential candidates,” he said.
Speaking further, the former APC House of Representatives aspirant reflected on his experience as a former board member of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). He admitted that before his appointment, he was skeptical about the commission’s capacity to deliver meaningful development. However, his perspective drastically changed after witnessing the scale of projects undertaken by the agency established to address the cry of marginalization of oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta.
“I would have sworn that no good could come out of the commission. But when I got there and saw the sheer number of projects being undertaken and the potential they have for good works, I changed my mind,” he said.
Nevertheless, he lamented the political instability that has plagued the NDDC since its inception, noting that only one board has completed its full tenure. He argued that the frequent dissolution of the commission’s boards undermines consistency and institutional stability.
Dr. Ifowodo also raised concerns about political interference in the commission’s activities. He referenced recent complaints by the current Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, who alleged that politicians sabotage the commission by inserting “ghost projects” into its budget.
One such project category, he claimed, is “de-silting,” which he described as often being used as a conduit for siphoning funds.
Despite these challenges, the lawyer insisted that the NDDC continues to execute impactful projects across communities in the Niger Delta region. He called for the agency to be allowed to function as an interventionist body without excessive political interference.
