By Gift ChapiOdekina, Abuja

The Renewed Hope Grassroots Initiatives (RHGI), has thrown its support behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s potential re-election in 2027, urging Nigerians to sustain what it described as ongoing reforms through a “continuity mandate.”

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the group’s Director-General, Jaafaru Sa’ad, said the Tinubu administration had recorded measurable progress despite inheriting longstanding structural and security challenges.

“Insecurity did not start with President Bola Tinubu. He inherited it from the four past Presidents, and he is dealing with it,” Sa’ad said, adding that “trying to blame President Tinubu for the security challenges is disingenuous.”

He noted that ongoing reforms in the security and intelligence architecture would take time to yield visible outcomes. “The President is redesigning the intelligence and security architecture he inherited and these things do not materialise overnight,” he added.

On the debate around power rotation and tenure, Sa’ad warned against proposals advocating a single four-year term, insisting that such ideas could destabilise governance and undermine national balance.

“In the spirit of equity, fairness and national unity, it becomes just and equitable for President Tinubu to be allowed the chance to complete his eight-year tenure,” he said.

He further cautioned that shortening the tenure could disrupt Nigeria’s political equilibrium. “A single term of four years does not grant enough time to effect any substantive change and is capable of truncating the peaceful rotational presidency we have enjoyed,” Sa’ad stated.

Taking a swipe at proponents of a one-term presidency, he added: “Nigerians should be wary of desperate politicians. If they could not fix a state they governed in eight years, it exposes their lack of understanding of the complexities of governance.”

The RHGI boss also pointed to what he described as improving economic indicators under the current administration, including declining inflation, rising foreign reserves, and increased investor confidence.

“Economic growth is returning to Nigeria courtesy of the reforms being carried out by Mr President,” he said.

“Inflation rate… dropped significantly, while foreign exchange reserves have risen to $46 billion the highest in seven years.”

He also referenced Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list as a milestone in financial governance reforms. “Its removal signals global confidence in Nigeria’s commitment to combating money laundering and terrorist financing,” he noted.

Sa’ad listed key policy measures such as fuel subsidy removal, foreign exchange reforms, and renewed investments in the oil and gas sector as drivers of economic recovery.

On social interventions, he highlighted education-focused initiatives. “Tinubu’s administration grants access to education for the poor and middle classes,” he said, citing the student loan scheme and related programmes.

While acknowledging the hardship associated with reforms, Sa’ad urged Nigerians to remain patient.

“Reforms everywhere in the world come with pains Nigerians should endure today for a brighter and better future,” he said.

He concluded by calling for nationwide support for the President’s re-election bid. “We call on all Nigerians to give President Bola Ahmed Tinubu another four years in 2027 to complete the work he has started,” he said.

Sa’ad added that the group would mobilise support across the country, leveraging its grassroots structure to galvanise voters in support of the President’s second-term ambition.