Mr Gbemi

Hi, I’m Olatoun Asake Yewande from Osun State. In light of the campaign season, I’ve decided to publicly reaffirm my position: PBAT is the candidate I am supporting for the 2027 presidential election. I don’t owe anyone an explanation for my political choice, but since some people who I hold in high regard have come to my DM asking if I support a particular candidate and whether I’m a supporter of a particular political party, I think it’s worth making my position clear. In the last election and until late 2025, I had a different perspective. I supported a different candidate and, at the time, answered those who asked in good faith. But I’m an adult who thinks for herself, pays her own bills and, thankfully, does not depend on anybody’s daddy on X to tell me what to think. 🤭 So yes, I changed my mind and I’m perfectly comfortable with that. I have looked at the other candidates. I have scrutinised their records, listened to their arguments and considered what each of them is offering Nigeria. After doing that, I have settled on PBAT. Why? Because whatever anyone chooses to say about him, his administration has actually taken some consequential decisions and implemented reforms. The fuel subsidy was removed, ending a system that had become an enormous drain on government finances. The foreign-exchange system was unified, tackling the multiple exchange rates and distortions that had plagued the economy. The government has also pushed major tax and fiscal reforms, strengthened revenue collection and increased the funds available to states and local governments. There has been significant investment in roads, highways, rail, housing and other infrastructure. Thousands of kilometres of roads are under construction or rehabilitation, while rail and port projects are being expanded. NELFUND has expanded access to tertiary education through student loans, while the government has also introduced CNG initiatives aimed at reducing transportation costs and supporting a transition away from dependence on petrol. The administration has also pushed domestic refining and investment in the oil and gas sector, supported agricultural mechanisation, expanded housing programmes, worked on the power sector and pursued measures intended to attract investment back into Nigeria. Do I think everything is perfect? Absolutely not. My support isn’t because I think Tinubu has magically fixed Nigeria. He hasn’t. Nigerians are still hurting, and pretending otherwise would be dishonest. My argument is that I would rather support a government that has had the political courage to confront structural problems we’ve spent decades kicking down the road and then judge it on whether the foundation it is building eventually delivers. For the first time in a long time, we’re having conversations about domestic refining instead of permanent dependence on imported petrol, state governments have more resources, thousands of kilometres of roads are being reconstructed, electricity reform has opened the door for states to participate more directly, over a million students have accessed student financing, agricultural mechanisation is being scaled, CNG infrastructure is being built and capital is returning to the country. I am not supporting perfection. I am supporting a direction. And, most importantly, I am supporting him because he is a Yoruba man from Osun State. ☺️ If that last reason offends you, please take it up with my ancestors. I have already made my decision. 😌