Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma has likened President Bola Tinubu to Singapore’s founding leader, Lee Kuan Yew, describing the President’s economic reforms as bold measures that he believes will reposition Nigeria for long-term growth.

Speaking at a state dinner in Owerri to mark the conclusion of the three-day Renewed Hope Ambassadors and Presidential Communications Team National Media Tour of projects executed by the Federal Government and Imo State, Uzodimma expressed confidence that Nigerians would re-elect Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

According to a statement issued on Saturday by the Director of Media and Publicity of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Tunde Rahman, the governor said President Tinubu assumed office with a clear understanding of Nigeria’s economic challenges and immediately began implementing reforms aimed at addressing them.

Uzodimma argued that the country’s previous economic structure was unsustainable, adding that the reforms, though difficult, were necessary to place Nigeria on a path of sustainable development. He compared the nation’s former economic condition to the biblical captivity of the Israelites in Egypt, saying painful but decisive actions were needed to break away from years of stagnation.

While acknowledging that the policies have imposed short-term hardships on many Nigerians, the governor maintained that the reforms are already producing positive outcomes, including increased revenue allocations to states, which he said have enabled greater investment in infrastructure and social development.

He attributed several ongoing projects in Imo State, including investments in healthcare, education, technology and infrastructure, to the opportunities created by the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Expressing optimism about the future, Uzodimma said he believes Nigerians will renew Tinubu’s mandate in 2027 as the impact of the reforms becomes more visible across the country.

Speaking on behalf of the visiting journalists, veteran journalist Dr. Soni Daniel commended the Imo State Government for what he described as significant progress in infrastructure, healthcare, education and digital innovation.

He said the inspection tour provided an opportunity to assess projects firsthand and demonstrated prudent utilisation of public resources.

Also speaking, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, praised the governor for the state’s development efforts and effective implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Dare highlighted projects visited during the tour, including the Imo Digital City, the 2,000-bed Infectious Disease Centre, the Heart Transplant Centre, the University of Innovation, Science and Technology, and the Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu International Convention Centre, describing them as examples of the benefits of collaboration between the Federal Government and state governments, supported by increased FAAC allocations.