President Bola Tinubu has dismissed allegations that he is working to weaken opposition parties and turn Nigeria into a one-party state, saying such claims are unfounded.
The president spoke on Wednesday during an interfaith breakfast with senators at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where he addressed concerns about the political climate in the country.
Responding to critics who accused him of “killing opposition,” Tinubu said criticism is part of public life and comes with leadership.
“What they call you, any name, any nickname, critics must talk. When they accused me of killing opposition, I didn’t have a gun. I could have given myself a licence seeing as I have the authority,” he said.
The president noted that the country is facing serious security challenges, including terrorism and banditry, stressing that unity is more important than political division at this time.
He urged Nigerians to embrace the vision of the nation’s founding fathers and work together to strengthen constitutional democracy.
Tinubu also defended his administration’s economic reforms, stating that they were introduced to tackle corruption and stabilise the economy.
According to him, ending what he described as monumental corruption in the fuel subsidy regime and foreign exchange arbitrage required bold decisions and collective support.
“You don’t have to chase me for dollars; you can see what Nigeria is today,” he said, adding that the country is now on the path of economic stability and recovery.
The president expressed optimism about Nigeria’s future, urging continued cooperation among political leaders to sustain progress and prosperity.
