Former Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs, Kingsley Kemebradigha Kuku, has expressed support for President Bola Tinubu’s administration, arguing that policies capable of advancing Nigeria’s development should receive attention beyond partisan political considerations.
Kuku, a former chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, clarified that his support for Tinubu does not make him a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He disclosed that his last political affiliation was with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and maintained that he is currently not active in partisan politics.
Explaining his involvement in the PBAT Door-to-Door events in Akure and Gombe, Kuku said his decision was guided by an independent assessment of the president’s policies and his confidence in the judgment of the initiative’s convener, High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.
Among the policies he identified for consideration were the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the push for state police, tax reforms and local government autonomy. According to him, initiatives should be assessed on their potential contribution to national development rather than simply on the political party promoting them.
However, Kuku stressed that supporting the president’s reform agenda does not mean abandoning criticism or overlooking the need for accountability. He maintained that political independence allows him to endorse policies he considers beneficial while speaking out whenever government actions fall short of public expectations.
The former presidential adviser also renewed calls for greater attention to the Ijaw Nation and the wider Niger Delta, insisting that the region’s contribution to Nigeria’s economic prosperity should translate into tangible improvements in the lives of its people.
He called for stronger investment in infrastructure, environmental restoration, healthcare, education and economic opportunities, arguing that development in the oil-producing region must reflect its importance to the country’s wealth.
Kuku’s position underscores his argument that national interest and regional justice need not be sacrificed on the altar of party loyalty. While expressing confidence in selected policies of the Tinubu administration, he maintained that support for government initiatives must go hand in hand with the pursuit of equity and accountability.
