Emmanuel Obi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that he will not make it easy for political opponents seeking to unseat him, insisting that while everyone has the right to contest elections, politics remains a competitive contest.
The President made the remarks on Tuesday while receiving members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“I asked for this job. I’m in it. Those who will take it from me will try. They will try. All is fair in politics, and it’s equal opportunity,” Tinubu said.
Responding to concerns about the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the President maintained that the electoral body remains neutral.
“INEC, you mentioned, is neutral. They’ve never intimidated anybody. If political opponents are crying wolves, maybe they are afraid of their own shadows and the uncertainty in the company they keep, not me,” he said.
Tinubu added that he was prepared for political contests but would not make the path easier for his rivals.
“I’m ready, but I won’t give them a red carpet. I won’t offer them the leash to tie me and rope me. No, we wrestle each other to the finishing point,” he stated.
The President also defended his administration’s performance, saying the quality of life in the country is gradually improving despite inherited challenges.
According to him, Nigeria’s founding fathers laid a solid foundation, and the current generation has a responsibility to build a nation defined by unity, stability and prosperity.
Highlighting developments in the education sector, Tinubu noted that prolonged disruptions caused by strikes had reduced significantly.
“None of your children in the university today—you can say all of them are your children—can say a four-year course is no longer four years. ASUU is not on strike. They are not bringing agony to your homes. To me, that’s an answer to our prayers,” he said.
On security, the President acknowledged the country’s challenges but urged Nigerians to remain committed to national unity.
“The security situation is what it is. We don’t have another country but Nigeria. In this complexity and diversity, we shall thrive, live, rejoice and be good to one another as humanity,” he said.
Tinubu reiterated that he inherited many of the nation’s current challenges and remains committed to addressing them.
“The challenges are there. I inherited them. I didn’t run away,” the President added.
