Nelson Utip
The Deputy Goverqnor of Delta State, Monday Onyeme and the Nigerian community leaders in Atlanta, United States clashed over President Bola Tinubu’s performance. The Deputy Governor defended the administration’s economic reforms and infrastructure projects while his audience challenged their impact on ordinary Nigerians.
This occurred during Onyeme’s recent working visit to Georgia and exposed a sharp divide over whether the federal government’s policies are delivering the promised transformation or worsening the economic hardship confronting millions of citizens.
Onyeme used the occasion to describe President Tinubu as a once-in-a-generation leader whose decisions were repositioning Nigeria for sustainable growth, while some members of the audience cited the high cost of living, persistent insecurity, deteriorating highways and alleged irregularities in public procurement as evidence that the administration had fallen short of expectations.
The clash became obvious when community leaders Raymond Ekuerhare and Chief Emeka Chimekwene rejected Onyeme’s glowing assessment, they insisted that Nigerians abroad were not relying on social media alone to evaluate developments at home.
Onyeme had accused Nigerians of using social media to spread misinformation, disinformation and half-truths about the achievements of Tinubu’s administration and the government of Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori.
He also argued that such narratives were damaging Nigeria’s international image and preventing citizens abroad from appreciating what he described as the transformative impact of the President’s eight-point Renewed Hope Agenda.
“I have been around for a while, both as a private citizen and now in government. There is no Nigerian leader that even comes close to President Tinubu in terms of achievement, in making tough choices that will set the country apart, now and in the near future.” Onyeme said.
He identified himself as a professional accountant and maintained that the administration’s policies were laying the foundation for long-term economic stability, improved governance and accelerated development.
In his reaction , Ekuerhare, a business and community leader, who said he traveled to Nigeria almost every other month, disputed that assessment, he pointed to the gap between government claims and the realities confronting citizens.
He specifically cited the condition of the Benin-Asaba, Ore-Benin, Benin-Warri and Warri-Ughelli-Bomadi roads, arguing that the state of the highways undermined claims of impressive infrastructure development.
“The eight-point Renewed Hope Agenda is only good on paper but not affecting people’s lives for good.” Ekuerhare said while questioning the administration’s record on security, he argued that insecurity and kidnappings continued to undermine the freedom of movement and economic activities of Nigerians.
Chimekwene, another Delta State community leader in Atlanta, in his reaction raised concerns over public procurement, particularly contracts he alleged had been awarded without competitive bidding to the Chagoury Group.
He pointed out allegations of non-competitive contract awards which raised questions on transparency and accountability, he insisted that a government seeking to transform the country must demonstrate that public resources are being managed responsibly.
“We don’t depend on social media for serious matters of the state. We have family members at home; their lives and living conditions have not improved under President Tinubu.” He said.
Chimekwene challenged Onyeme’s economic assessment, he argued that the hardship experienced by households made it difficult to describe the administration’s record as transformational.
However, Chimekwene expressed greater confidence in Onyeme’s account of the impact of Governor Oborevwori’s MORE Agenda in Delta State, he said that members of the Diaspora could more readily verify some of the state government’s projects during visits home.
In response to the criticisms, Onyeme insisted that the federal government’s policies had created the conditions enabling state and local governments to pursue development programmes more effectively.
He emphasized on local government autonomy, describing the Supreme Court’s July 2024 judgment on the financial independence of local councils as a landmark step towards strengthening grassroots governance and advancing true federalism.
The judgment followed the Federal Government’s legal action seeking to protect local governments’ constitutional rights, including their access to funds without unlawful interference by state governments.
He said that successive administrations had failed to fully realize local government autonomy despite reforms introduced in 1976 under the military administration of General Murtala Muhammed and continued under General Olusegun Obasanjo.
Onyeme posits that the Tinubu administration had placed the issue at the centre of governance, enabling the country’s 774 local government areas to take greater responsibility for services directly affecting citizens.
According to him, Local Councils are now better positioned to undertake projects in road construction, primary healthcare, community education, sanitation, waste management and local security.
He also defended the removal of the petrol subsidy, foreign exchange reforms, tax changes and electricity sector reforms, arguing that the measures were designed to eliminate structural weaknesses, improve government revenue and create a more sustainable economic environment.
He however agreed that the policies had imposed difficulties on household but insisted that the sacrifices would eventually yield long-term benefits.
The Atlanta occasion was hosted by Chief Collins Odinjor and his wife, Alero, with support from Mr Kingsley Dike and his wife, Tilda, and Mr Frederick Ogodo and his wife, Henrietta.
Others who graced the occasion include former Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia and his wife, Eunice; Professor Nuru Akinyemi of Kennesaw State University; Dr Dave Ogwu; Mr Felix Ochei; Pastor Orlando Scott; Attorney Ani Alumona Oluku; Mr Henry Nketeh; Ekuerhare; Chimekwene; Mr Ken Eze; and Mrs Ndidi Ogwu, who moderated the question-and-answer session.
