2027: ADC’s Ike Bishop Okoronkwo Faults Tinubu’s Economic Policies, Questions LG Autonomy

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for Abia North Senatorial District, Ike Bishop Okoronkwo, has criticised the economic policies of the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government, arguing that policies hurting Nigerians should be reversed in the interest of the people.

Okoronkwo stated this while appearing as a guest on Rapid TV, where he discussed issues affecting Nigerians and presented the ADC’s political vision ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He questioned the government’s claims about economic progress, particularly in employment generation, insisting that more Nigerians had lost their jobs under the current administration.

According to him, any responsible government should be willing to review or reverse policies when evidence shows that they are negatively affecting the welfare of citizens.

“When you see that your policy is hurting your people, what do you do? You reverse the policy,” he said, challenging the Federal Government to provide statistics showing the number of jobs created under its administration.

On local government autonomy, the ADC senatorial candidate dismissed claims that local governments are operating independently, insisting that genuine autonomy remains unrealised.

He argued that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should effectively monitor the movement and utilisation of funds allocated to local governments from the Federation Account.

Okoronkwo, however, accused the anti-graft agency of alleged selective enforcement, suggesting that political considerations and the influence of state governors could undermine efforts to ensure accountability.

He questioned why the EFCC had not adequately demonstrated its ability to monitor how local government funds are spent and hold those responsible for financial misconduct accountable.

The ADC candidate further described corruption in Nigeria as systemic, alleging that those in positions of authority often turn a blind eye to wrongdoing despite being aware of what is happening.

He maintained that effective governance requires transparency, accountability and the willingness to confront practices that undermine public institutions and deprive citizens of the benefits of government resources.