Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, arguing that the President inherited a country on the verge of economic collapse from the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
Mutfwang made the remarks on Monday during the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council in Jos, where he urged residents of Plateau State to support Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
According to the governor, the previous administration left behind an economy struggling with external debt obligations, dwindling foreign exchange resources and difficulties that affected businesses operating in Nigeria.
“Where did President Tinubu meet Nigeria in 2023? He met Nigeria, tottering on the brink of collapse,” Mutfwang said, claiming that the country had struggled to service its external debts and enable some foreign businesses to repatriate their earnings.
He further claimed that Nigeria’s external reserves had fallen to slightly above $3 billion before Tinubu assumed office, but had since risen to more than $50 billion.
The governor also accused the Buhari administration of relying heavily on money creation to finance government spending, alleging that more than ₦30 trillion was printed during the period.
Mutfwang maintained that the Tinubu administration’s economic policies had helped stabilize the Central Bank and address some of the fiscal challenges inherited from its predecessor.
On fuel subsidy, the Plateau governor described the former system as fraudulent, alleging that public funds were used to pay claims supported by fictitious documents.
He argued that ending the subsidy had come with significant economic difficulties but insisted that the country needed to make the adjustment to address longstanding problems.
Mutfwang acknowledged that fuel remained expensive despite improved availability, adding that Nigerians should recognize the challenges associated with the reforms.
The governor also accused the previous administration of selling crude oil in advance, saying Nigeria was still meeting obligations arising from those arrangements.
Turning to his administration’s performance in Plateau State, Mutfwang highlighted the introduction of metro buses, the revival of the railway system within Jos and reductions in tuition fees at state-owned tertiary institutions.
He said school fees for students in the institutions had been reduced by 50 per cent, while allowances had been increased by about 300 per cent.
He also praised the Federal Government’s Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), saying students from Plateau State had benefited from its financial support scheme.
On the political front, Mutfwang called for continued power rotation between Nigeria’s northern and southern regions, arguing that the South should be allowed another eight years in office after the North’s eight-year tenure.
He expressed confidence that Plateau State would support Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election and urged APC campaign officials to communicate the administration’s achievements with honesty and facts.
The governor, however, acknowledged that insecurity and hunger remained major concerns, insisting that his government was working towards solutions, including measures to strengthen security and facilitate the return of internally displaced persons to their communities.
He urged residents to remain patient, promising continued efforts to protect communities across Plateau State.
#CalebMutfwang #BolaTinubu #MuhammaduBuhari #APC #NigeriaPolitics #2027Elections #PlateauState #OnPointGist
