President Bola Tinubu has said he is not intimidated by individuals or groups seeking to unseat him in the 2027 elections.
He said this on Thursday while receiving members of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The delegation was led by governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State.
Tinubu said he remains committed on what he described as a historic responsibility to lift Nigeria out of poverty and ignorance while strengthening democratic values.
He urged members of the group to promote unity and national development, stating, “ There’s no other path that we embrace to national greatness. Other than build one nation, one common vision for progress and the prosperity, of our people. That’s what we must do. That’s what Renew Hope is all about.”
He also lambasted opposition elements, stressing that his administration would respect the rule of law and judicial authority.
“We would not submit to disobedience of a lawful order of the court. We must embrace the judiciary. Whether it favors us or it doesn’t. We submit to this principle of democracy. Separation of power and understanding of the dynamics of it,” he said.
While referring to the convention of the African Democratic Congress, Tinubu reiterated his commitment to democratic stability, dismissing opposing activities as distractions.
“Not the noise making. Not the rascality of a street convention.
“You want to scare me off? It’s a lie. I went through this path before. And if I have to come back over and over and over again, I’ll do the same thing.”
He further criticised some of his opponents, pointing to what he described as their past failures in governance and policy implementation.
“None of them is without history, the head was the Chairman of the National Council on Privatization NCP, in this country, one time, they privatized the steel industry in Delta State, is it working today? No. They privatized the Ajaokuta Steel, is it working today? No.
“Go on with the list. They privatized another man’s political party. That one said no.”
The President emphasised the need for integrity and patriotism among Nigerians, insisting that national development depends on collective effort.
“There is no better place than your own country, and no one can build it, except you. We saw great things, we’ve seen skyscrapers, we wondered how the plane takes off and fly out from one destination to the other.”
“These are no magic of yesterday. It is the thinker of tomorrow and the future that can elevate life, that can reform us all. And being a transformative leader that you are, you are in good company.
Tinubu also urged his supporters not to be afraid, reflecting on the state of the economy and his succession from former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Don’t be afraid. I have listened to you. This economy, I didn’t have to look back because the truth is, I took over from myself. The late Buhari is me, he was a partner and if I took over from him, is that not from myself? So, if something is wrong, fine. Live with it, correct it, move on.”
He described both the party primaries and the general election that brought him to power as challenging but said he overcame the hurdles.
