Nya-Etok seeks support for Tinubu’s re-election bid
By Anita Uzoagba
Mr Ezekiel Nya-Etok, Executive Director, Estate Services at the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), has declared support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.
Nya-Etok disclosed this on Friday in Abuja at a news conference organised to assess Tinubu’s administration and Nigeria’s future.
He said Nigeria was approaching a consequential election, requiring citizens to examine records of aspirants before making informed choices.
Nya-Etok said his support for Tinubu’s second term bid rests on three considerations.
”The willingness to undertake difficult structural reforms, openness to professional competence, and need for continuity,” he said.
The Executive- Director said his assessment came from decades of advocacy in governance and Nigeria’s housing sector before public service.
According to him, my appointment by the administration, gave me firsthand experience of Tinubu’s leadership style.
”President Tinubu’s courage to confront postponed national problems remained essential for effective leadership,” he said.
He said Nigeria had faced structural challenges in subsidy, foreign exchange, public revenue and infrastructure.
Nya-Etok said Tinubu’s administration undertook significant changes, including petrol subsidy removal and foreign exchange reforms.
”Tax legislation, student loan fund and infrastructure projects as major reforms by the administration.
”These reforms must be judged by objectives, implementation, costs and measurable results, not just boldness,” he said.
Nya-Etok said his appointment into FHA showed Tinubu’s respect for competence beyond party affiliation.
He said he was not a member of the president’s political party when appointed.
He said the appointment proved professional experience counts alongside political considerations in public appointments.
He cautioned that one appointment does not establish universal pattern across government.
Nya-Etok said economic statistics cannot substitute for citizens’ lived experiences amid reforms.
The Executive- Director said families struggling to buy food may not feel impact of improved indicators.
He said government must distinguish between economic stabilisation and achievement of widespread prosperity.
He said fiscal improvements and investor confidence are important, but must translate to affordable living conditions.
Nya-Etok urged government to acknowledge hardship openly and explain reforms clearly to citizens.
He said government should publish credible evidence of progress and expected timelines for benefits.
Nya-Etok said supporting government’s direction does not require agreeing with every decision.
He called for greater attention to social housing, mass transportation, healthcare and education.
He also stressed prompt payment of legitimate salaries and pension obligations, adding that his office was developing proposals for federal-state collaboration and accountable project delivery.
He said housing should create employment, skills acquisition and community development, not just buildings.
He said an enterprise estate model integrating training and economic activities deserves testing, noting that said such ideas should be assessed by feasibility, affordability and benefit to low-income Nigerians.
He said citizens are not spectators but holders of sovereign electoral mandate in democracy.
He said incumbents must account for mandates while challengers must present credible alternatives.
He called the concept “Office of the Citizen,” requiring scrutiny of achievements without exaggeration, adding that Nigeria’s democracy depends on citizens’ diligence in selecting leaders and demanding accountability.
He urged citizens to demand specifics from opposition parties beyond slogans about hardship.
He said “people are hungry” is not a manifesto, urging opposition to present implementation pathways.
He said Nigeria deserves serious examination of leadership decisions and their capacity to improve lives.
Nya-Etok said Tinubu’s reforms are significant, but hardship persists and considerable work remains.
He said Nigeria must demand continuity where policies work and correction where implementation fails.
He said ultimate measure of leadership is ability to convert difficult decisions into lasting benefits.(NAN)
Edited by Dorcas Jonah
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