Yakasai Bags Nnanyelugo of Ibagwa Nike, Says Tinubu Deserves Second Term to Consolidate Economic Gains
…Calls for enduring national unity, peace and stronger North-South relations
…acknowledges Enugu’s security reflects new Nigeria focus
…Igwe Ugwu hails Yakasai as detribalised Nigerian, says honour reflects commitment to national cohesion
The Director-General of the Tinubu Support Group, Dr Umar Tanko Yakasai, has called on Nigerians to sustain the unity and peaceful coexistence of the country, declaring that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu deserves a second term to consolidate the gains of his administration’s economic reforms.
Yakasai made the call on Sunday in Enugu shortly after receiving the prestigious chieftaincy title of Nnanyelugo of Ibagwa Nike from the traditional ruler of Ibagwa Nike, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Emmanuel Ugwu.
The occasion, which attracted prominent political leaders, government officials, traditional rulers and other distinguished personalities, was characterised by expressions of solidarity, national integration and renewed commitment to peaceful coexistence among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups.
Various political support groups, including the Eyewitness Network led by the state Director, Comrade Sam Udekwe, were on the ground in solidarity and felicitations with the DG,Dr Yakasai.
Speaking after his installation, Yakasai described the honour as a moment of immense personal fulfilment, saying it represented the continuation of his father’s enduring legacy of fostering friendship and building bridges across ethnic and geographical boundaries.
The DG,TSG,Dr Yakasai receiving the royal recognition in Enugu
He recalled that his father, born in 1925, married an Igbo woman, thereby establishing a family connection with the South-East, adding that the late Igbo leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, was present at the wedding in Kano.
Expressing excitement over his recognition by the Ibagwa Nike traditional institution, he said the title was particularly significant because it reinforced his family’s longstanding relationship with the Igbo people.
“It’s a very great honour to receive this title from the Igwe of Ibagwa. I feel very excited because I’m following in the tradition of my own father, who was lucky to have married an Igbo woman. So, I have a mother at home who is Igbo.
“Late Odumegwu Ojukwu was in Kano and attended that particular wedding. Today, I’m very happy to receive this title from Igbo land, particularly Ibagwa Kingdom,” he said.
Yakasai, who described the chieftaincy honour as a dream fulfilled for his father, stressed that the most enduring legacy he wished to preserve was the promotion of peace, unity and harmonious relationships among Nigerians.
According to him, Nigeria’s continued stability and peaceful coexistence should remain the collective aspiration of present and future generations.
He said: “It’s what my dad said that if there’s anything I would like Nigeria to do, it’s to remain peaceful, because we’ve enjoyed peace in Nigeria; and should sustain peace for its children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
“This represents continuous engagement across River Niger, building friendship among ourselves and ensuring that Nigeria remains united.”
He added that the recognition would further strengthen his determination to sustain the legacy of building bridges between the North and South, irrespective of ethnic, religious or cultural differences.
“It is like a dream come true for my father, who is still alive, and I believe we shall carry on with his legacy of building networks and bridges across River Niger for peace and unity between the North and South, so that peace will continue to reign in Nigeria,” he stated.
On the performance of the Tinubu administration, the Tinubu Support Group Director-General maintained that the President had recorded considerable achievements in stabilising the Nigerian economy and implementing key components of his 2023 electoral manifesto.
He recalled that the President’s 82-page manifesto outlined an ambitious development agenda covering economic stability, national security, healthcare, education, agriculture, technology and other critical sectors.
Yakasai argued that although the administration had yet to address all the country’s challenges, its economic reforms had helped avert an impending economic collapse and restored confidence in the nation’s financial system.
He particularly highlighted improvements in foreign reserves, inflation management, revenue generation and the capacity of state governments to meet their financial obligations.
“When the President was contesting in 2023, he had an 82-page manifesto or agenda, and in that agenda, he talked about economic stability. He wanted to ensure security in the country, good health, education, agriculture, the technology industry and so many other things.
“We are happy to say that when the economy was falling and was about to crash in 2023, the President has stabilised the economy, as confirmed by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the renowned global economist,” he said.
He further claimed that inflation, which had risen to approximately 34 per cent, had declined to about 15 per cent, describing the development as evidence of progress in the government’s economic management.
Yakasai also cited improvements in Nigeria’s foreign reserves, increased financial allocations to state governments and the clearance of outstanding foreign obligations as significant accomplishments of the administration.
According to him, the increased resources available to state governments have strengthened their capacity to pay salaries promptly and undertake development projects.
“States that could not pay salaries because we were printing money to pay salaries, the states now pay salaries on the 25th of every month. And not only that, they now have excess money for development in their states because resources have tripled, if not quadrupled. That in itself is an achievement,” he declared.
He also listed the clearance of inherited foreign exchange obligations, repayment of outstanding debts and the settlement of the IMF COVID-19 loan among the administration’s notable achievements.
On education, he highlighted the impact of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), noting that students across the country had benefited from the government’s intervention in expanding access to tertiary education.
He further expressed optimism about the security situation, saying his experience during his visit to Enugu had reinforced his confidence in the possibility of a safer Nigeria.
“Security, I’m here in Enugu; I feel safe with my friends,” he said.
However, Yakasai acknowledged that the administration’s achievements in the macroeconomic sphere had not yet translated into sufficient relief for ordinary Nigerians, particularly in their daily purchasing power.
He therefore argued that a second term for Tinubu would provide the opportunity to consolidate macroeconomic stability while giving greater attention to the microeconomic challenges confronting households and businesses.
He explained that stabilising the broader economy was a necessary foundation for addressing the difficulties experienced by ordinary citizens.
“In that agenda, the President has realised quite a number of things, and this is just three years. He cannot realise everything. That is why the President needs to come back for a second term to address the micro-economy, because you have to stabilise the bigger picture before you look at the smaller one.
“Let him come back to address the smaller picture so that you and I can buy whatever we want to buy and increase our purchasing power,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of State, Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, described Yakasai’s installation as Nnanyelugo of Ibagwa Nike as a powerful demonstration of the enduring bonds of peace, friendship and national unity.
She urged Nigerians to transcend ethnic and regional considerations and embrace a common vision of national development, stressing that the country’s progress depended on collective commitment to its stability and prosperity.
Uzoka-Anite also called on Nigerians to support President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, arguing that continuity would enable the administration to consolidate its ongoing reforms and deliver the full benefits of its policies.
She maintained that ethnic sentiments should not be allowed to undermine the country’s collective aspirations, urging citizens to place national interest above sectional considerations.
Earlier, the traditional ruler of Ibagwa Nike, Igwe Emmanuel Ugwu, explained that Yakassai’s conferment with the Nnanyelugo title was informed by his demonstrated commitment to national unity, his disposition towards other ethnic groups and his consistent efforts to promote peaceful coexistence.
The monarch described the recipient as a detribalised Nigerian who had distinguished himself through his conduct and relationships across the country’s diverse communities.
According to him, Yakasai had faithfully followed the footsteps of his father, whose longstanding relationship with the Igbo people provided a compelling example of inter-ethnic friendship and mutual respect.
Igwe Ugwu said the title was a recognition of Yakasai’s exemplary disposition and his contributions to strengthening the bonds between the North and South.
He urged Nigerians to make peace and national unity their foremost priorities, irrespective of political, religious, ethnic or cultural differences.
The traditional ruler maintained that Nigeria possessed the human and material resources to rank among the foremost nations of the world, provided its citizens embraced unity, mutual understanding and a shared commitment to national development.
He called on leaders and citizens alike to promote reconciliation, tolerance and constructive engagement as indispensable ingredients for building a stronger, more prosperous and united Nigeria.
The installation of Yakasai, therefore, served not only as a traditional recognition of an individual’s contributions to society but also as a symbolic reaffirmation of the enduring cultural, social and political ties between the North and South, with the shared aspiration of preserving Nigeria’s unity for generations to come.
EDITOR
Sam Udekwe is a journalist working in the News and Current Affairs department, Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Enugu. He is well trained in all genres of journalistic venture.
Mr Sam read Mass Communication, graduating all with Distinction in National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma at IMT, Enugu and Madonna University, Okija, Anambra state, as well as M.Sc Mass Communication at National Open University of Nigeria.
He is the immediate past NUJ Chairman, Enugu state.
samowailo@gmail.com
