Tinubu reaffirms commitment to democracy, says 'they cannot scare me off'

Politics

ABUJA, Nigeria — 17 April 2026 (NPA) — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s unwavering commitment to democracy, emphasizing respect for the judiciary and adherence to lawful court orders. He pledged not to be swayed by “noise, disorder, or defiance,” stressing that Nigeria’s unity and shared vision remain central to national progress.

Speaking at a forum in Abuja on Thursday before the leadership and coordinators of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors — a group aligned with his government’s policies and 2027 re-election bid — Tinubu underscored that national greatness can only be achieved through collective effort. He called for “one country, one common vision, one shared future of progress and prosperity for all Nigerians,” echoing his administration’s mantra of Renewed Hope.

The remarks followed criticism from former Osun State Governor and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Rauf Aregbesola, who at the ADC’s 8th National Convention in Abuja dismissed the APC’s Renewed Hope agenda as a “scam,” insisting that the ADC remains the true hope for Nigeria’s masses.

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Responding firmly, Tinubu declared: “They cannot scare me off. I have been through this road before and, if I must walk it again and again for our country, I will. There is no better place than Nigeria, and no one will build it for us except ourselves.”

Acknowledging the challenges ahead, the president urged APC members to strengthen coordination from the ward level, act as one family, and remain focused on delivering the party’s promises to Nigerians.

Meanwhile, the ADC has accused the APC of attempting to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, alleging that the ruling party was behind its leadership deregistration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its difficulties in securing a venue in Abuja for its recent convention. The APC has repeatedly denied these claims, insisting that the opposition’s leadership crisis is self-inflicted.