President Bola Tinubu has secured a significant political endorsement from the Niger Delta while issuing a firm vow to defeat the banditry and terrorism ravaging parts of the nation. The dual commitment came during a meeting with leaders of the Ogbia Kingdom in Bayelsa State at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday night.
Facing the delegation from the historically pivotal, oil-rich region, President Tinubu directly addressed the country’s pervasive security crisis. “We are prosecuting them. We are arresting them. We are neutralising them,” he stated, referring to terrorist and bandit groups. Acknowledging the persistent violence in the North-West, North-East, and North-Central, the President assured Nigerians, “I can guarantee you we will win,” crediting the armed forces who are “fighting very hard to bring peace and stability.”
Beyond security, the meeting centered on redressing longstanding grievances in the Niger Delta. President Tinubu admitted that past governments had failed to adequately cater to the region, famously called “the goose that lays the golden egg.” He pledged a new era of “progress, determination and constructive engagement,” praising the recent performance of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) under its Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku.
The President pointed to tangible improvements like solar-powered street lighting, which has extended economic activity in communities once shrouded in early darkness. He promised concrete action on critical community requests, including tackling severe coastal erosion and considering a major bridge project vital for regional economy. “We will continue with that, and we won’t let you down,” Tinubu vowed.
The administration’s focus on the region yielded immediate political dividends. The Ogbia delegation, led by Robert Enogha, explicitly pledged their kingdom’s support for President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections. “We are renewing your mandate… come 2027, we are with you,” Enogha declared, directly linking their endorsement to the appointment of their son, Ogbuku, and the “visible changes” underway.
President Tinubu also used the occasion to commend former President Goodluck Jonathan, an Ogbia indigene, describing him as a “good leader and citizen,” in a gesture of national unity.
The President connected the nation’s security battle to its economic future, arguing that Nigeria has “moved out of the tunnel” of economic difficulty. He stated the next task is ensuring “ordinary people at the bottom of the ladder” feel the benefits of recovery—a goal he linked to sustained development in regions like the Niger Delta.
This meeting strategically ties the critical issue of national security to the economic imperative of stabilizing the Niger Delta, positioning both as foundational to the administration’s legacy. The Ogbia Kingdom’s pledged support underscores the political stakes of delivering on these promises.
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President Tinubu Secures Niger Delta Backing with Dual Pledges of Security Victory and Development
