Nigerians may demand tenure extension for Tinubu — Oluwo

2026-03-29 - 18:34

The Oluwo of Iwo, Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has said Nigerians may eventually push for a constitutional amendment to allow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remain in office beyond the constitutionally permitted two terms. Akanbi made the remark in a congratulatory message to mark Tinubu’s 74th birthday, describing the president as a decisive leader whose policies are beginning to yield results. The statement was issued by his spokesperson, Ibrahim Alli. “Many Nigerians may call for a constitutional review to enable Tinubu to serve more than two terms in office. He is a leader who knows what he is doing,” the monarch said. He credited the administration with implementing reforms aimed at addressing long-standing economic challenges, noting that such measures have begun to stabilise key indicators. According to him, policies such as exchange rate unification, increased oil production, and rising foreign investment inflows have contributed to improvements in the economy. Akanbi also pointed to what he described as a significant rise in Nigeria’s foreign reserves, saying it increased from about $1 billion to between $49.5 billion and $50.45 billion as of late February and March 2026. “Tinubu has demonstrated uncommon leadership through reforms. Nigeria’s foreign reserves have increased to over $49.5bn from about $1bn,” he said. The traditional ruler further commended the president’s stance on governance reforms, including local government autonomy, which he said has strengthened grassroots administration and improved allocations to states. He also praised ongoing infrastructure projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road and the Sokoto-Badagry Road, describing them as critical to national development. Emphasising the importance of firm decision-making, Akanbi said: “You are not yet a capable leader until you take decisions and stand by them.” He added that while past leaders hesitated in the face of public pressure, Tinubu has shown resolve in implementing difficult policies, expressing optimism that the administration’s next phase would deliver greater economic stability and improved living standards.