Fuoad Oki Urges Tinubu to Purge Presidency, Warns of “Yes Men” Hindering Reform Agenda

Fuoad Oki Urges Tinubu to Purge Presidency, Warns of “Yes Men” Hindering Reform Agenda

A prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Fuoad Oki, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rid the Presidency of individuals he described as self-serving and disconnected from the realities Nigerians face. He said such a decisive step was necessary for the President to successfully implement his reform agenda and fulfill his campaign promises to the Nigerian people.

Speaking during an interactive session with journalists in Ikeja, Lagos, tagged “Speaking the Truth to Power: 2027 in Retrospect,” Oki warned that the President’s reform drive could be undermined by aides and advisers who prioritize personal gain over national progress.

According to him, history has shown that many leaders who entered the Presidential Villa with integrity and vision often left with damaged reputations due to the influence of those around them. He urged Tinubu to guard against such tendencies if he intends to leave behind a lasting legacy.

> “Mr. President must cleanse the Villa. Those who surround him should not be people who will only tell him what he wants to hear. Nigeria is at a turning point, and the kind of advice he receives now will determine the future of this country,” Oki stated.

The APC stalwart cautioned that the 2027 general election would be a defining moment for Nigeria’s democracy, stressing that “the personality of the candidate will determine the voting pattern, not the political party.”

Predicting that Lagos will record about 3.5 million valid votes in 2027 despite having nearly six million registered voters, Oki expressed optimism that ongoing electoral reforms—particularly the compulsory use of BIVAS and holding all elections on the same day—would make large-scale rigging difficult.

He, however, warned that if President Tinubu decides not to seek re-election, it might take another 40 years for someone of Yoruba extraction to return to the nation’s highest office.

Oki also underscored the critical role of the legislature in sustaining democracy, noting that any country that undermines its parliament risks political instability.

> “We must understand that the legislature is the backbone of sovereignty. Once that arm is weakened, governance becomes a dictatorship by default,” he said.

Despite his criticisms, Oki reaffirmed his support for President Tinubu, urging Nigerians to renew their confidence in his leadership come 2027.

> “We have already entrusted our sovereignty to him. The President is on a difficult but necessary mission to rebuild Nigeria after years of misrule and misplaced priorities,” he declared.

The APC leader lamented the growing influence of ethnic and religious politics over the past fifteen years, describing it as a major setback to national cohesion and development.

> “For Nigeria to move forward, we must rise above ethnic and religious sentiments and focus on competence, vision, and accountability,” he concluded.