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Kenneth Okonkwo questions Tinubu’s continued promises nearly four years into his administration.
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Fresh approval of the Ibom Deep Seaport revives concerns over years of presidential endorsements without construction.
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Previous administrations of Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari also took steps towards actualising the project.
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Nigerians want clear implementation timelines, secured funding and completed projects rather than repeated announcements.
November 12, (THEWILL) – The spokesman of the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, and lawyer, Kenneth Okonkwo, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over what he described as continued promises nearly four years into his administration, insisting that Nigerians should judge him by his achievements rather than assurances.
Okonkwo’s observation has reignited debate over the implementation of presidential commitments, particularly following Tinubu’s recent visits to Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers and other states, where he announced or reiterated commitments to major development projects.
The debate has been particularly pronounced in Akwa Ibom following Tinubu’s November 6, 2026 declaration approving the proposed Ibom Deep Seaport during his visit to Uyo. The President announced the approval after Governor Umo Eno appealed for federal support at the APC rally held at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
However, the announcement has attracted scrutiny because the project has received presidential endorsements under successive administrations without actual construction. Originally promoted as the Ibaka Deep Seaport and Industrial City during the administration of former Governor Victor Attah, the project has featured prominently in state and federal development plans for years.
In 2012, the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan inaugurated a project development committee, while the Federal Executive Council under former President Muhammadu Buhari approved the first phase in December 2020 at an estimated cost of $2.016 billion. Despite these steps, construction has yet to commence.
Tinubu had also pledged support for the project during his 2023 presidential campaign visit to Uyo, making his latest declaration another significant commitment to a project that has remained unrealised for decades.
Governor Eno, however, explained that the latest approval was connected to the Federal Government’s willingness to provide a sovereign guarantee required to secure investors’ confidence. He said prospective investors needed assurances on investment security, concession arrangements and recovery of their capital before committing funds.
The governor disclosed that his administration had undertaken feasibility studies, geophysical and geotechnical assessments, financial modelling and engagements with prospective investors. He also clarified that presidential approval did not mean immediate commencement of construction, given the enormous financial requirements of the project.
Nevertheless, concerns persist among residents and stakeholders, who want concrete evidence of progress, including secured financing, identified investors and a definite construction timetable. The seaport is expected to stimulate maritime trade, industrialisation, employment and investment in Akwa Ibom and the wider South-South region.
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Tinubu’s engagements in neighbouring states have similarly featured development promises. At the November 3 APC rally in Calabar, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, representing the President, highlighted the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and proposed Bakassi Deep Sea Port as projects expected to boost investment, tourism and employment in Cross River State.
During his November 7 visit to Port Harcourt, Tinubu also highlighted federal interventions and political developments in Rivers State while seeking renewed support for his administration.
However, the recurring announcements have raised questions about when such commitments will translate into completed infrastructure and improved living conditions, particularly as Nigerians continue to grapple with the rising cost of living and other economic challenges.
Ironically, Tinubu, in a message delivered on his behalf by Senate President Godswill Akpabio at the launch of the Presidential Pension Security Initiatives and National Minimum Pension Guarantee Programme in Abuja on November 11, urged Nigerians to judge political leaders by their records rather than promises.
“Do not listen to what they promise. Promises are free. Look at what they did when they were in power in the past,” the President said.
The statement has drawn attention to the standard by which the incumbent administration should equally be assessed as it approaches the end of its first term.
For Akwa Ibom, the immediate concern remains whether the latest presidential approval will move the Ibom Deep Seaport beyond years of political declarations into actual construction. Residents want transparency on financing, investors and implementation timelines.
As Okonkwo’s criticism underscores, Nigerians are increasingly demanding measurable results that demonstrate how presidential promises are being translated into tangible development.
