GOVERNOR Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has described President Bola Tinubu as another Lee Kuan Yew, the founding prime minister of Singapore who transformed the Asian nation into one of the world’s leading economic powers.
News Point Nigeria reports that the governor also commended Tinubu’s bold economic reforms and expressed confidence that the president’s performance would secure him a second term in office in the 2027 general election.
The remarks were contained in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Saturday by Tunde Rahman, Director of Media and Publicity of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors.
Uzodimma made the comments on Friday during a state dinner held at the Imo Government House to mark the conclusion of a three-day media inspection tour organised by the Renewed Hope Ambassadors in collaboration with the Presidential Communications Team.
“In President Bola Tinubu, we have another Lee Kuan Yew,” the governor said.
Uzodimma stated that Tinubu assumed office fully prepared to confront Nigeria’s economic challenges through sweeping reforms, adding that the country had entered a new phase of development under his leadership.
“The old order is gone and there is now a new order. President Tinubu knew exactly what he came to do,” he said.
“He started implementing the reforms immediately because he understood the task before him.”
The governor’s comparison places Tinubu alongside Lee Kuan Yew, who is widely regarded as one of the most transformative leaders in modern history and the founding father of contemporary Singapore.
Lee Kuan Yew served as Singapore’s first prime minister from 1959 to 1990 and is globally celebrated for transforming the once impoverished country into one of the most prosperous economies in the world.
Under his leadership, Singapore underwent rapid industrialisation through policies that encouraged foreign investment and positioned the city-state as a major manufacturing hub within a relatively short period.
Yew is also credited with entrenching meritocracy within Singapore’s public service and implementing measures that significantly curbed corruption across the country.
Although his administration faced criticism over allegations of authoritarianism and high-handedness, Singapore has since emerged as one of the world’s wealthiest nations, with a per capita income estimated at $173,708, compared to Nigeria’s approximately $1,600.
Uzodimma maintained that Tinubu’s reform agenda has set Nigeria on a new course and insisted that the president’s achievements would strengthen his chances of securing another mandate in 2027.