Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga has dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu vowed not to seek a second term if his administration failed to significantly improve Nigeria's electricity supply, insisting the 2022 campaign remarks have been repeatedly "taken out of context" by critics and political opponents .
The controversy stems from a statement Tinubu made during a business luncheon in December 2022 while campaigning for the presidency: "If I don't give you constant electricity for four years, when I come back for a second term, don't vote for me" . The comment has frequently resurfaced as Nigerians continue to grapple with persistent power outages and rising energy costs.
Onanuga Clarifies President's Position
Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Tuesday, Onanuga argued that the President's remarks were conditional and should not be interpreted as a categorical pledge to abandon re-election plans .
"That is not exactly what he said," Onanuga stated. He explained that Tinubu's comments reflected commitment to tackling longstanding power sector problems rather than a promise to withdraw from future elections .
The presidential aide stressed that critics often quote only a portion of the remarks while ignoring the broader context—specifically, that Tinubu asked Nigerians to understand the magnitude of the problems he inherited if he could not achieve certain objectives .
Administration's Power Sector Achievements Cited
Onanuga pointed to the Electricity Act, signed shortly after Tinubu assumed office, as a major achievement fundamentally changing the sector's structure . The legislation empowers states to generate, transmit, and distribute power independently, opening opportunities for greater investment .
He also highlighted efforts to address estimated billing through increased meter distribution, noting the government is producing meters and asking DISCOs to provide them free of charge .
Challenges Acknowledged
Despite defending the administration's record, Onanuga acknowledged that electricity supply has not yet reached the envisioned level. He attributed challenges to structural problems predating the current administration, including:
· Inadequate gas supply and operators owing gas companies over N4 trillion in legacy debts
· An outdated national transmission grid requiring substantial reform
· Installed generation capacity of approximately 13,500 megawatts, with operational constraints preventing full utilization
"We are not at the level that the President meant it. I can tell you that," Onanuga conceded, while maintaining the government remains committed to addressing these obstacles and improving electricity delivery nationwide .
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politics