President Tinubu Vows Fierce Contest Against 2027 Challengers

President Bola Tinubu, speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, issued a strong warning to political adversaries aspiring to unseat him in the 2027 general elections, stating his firm resolve to engage in a decisive battle. He emphasized that in a democratic competition, all strategies are permissible. These remarks were made by President Tinubu while hosting the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.

“Those who would take it from me will try. They will try. All is fair in politics, and there is equal opportunity,” the President declared to the bishops. He further asserted, “I won’t offer them a red carpet. I won’t offer them the leash to tie me at home. No, we will wrestle each other to the finishing point. That’s the truth. That is fair in politics.”

President Tinubu also dismissed any misgivings concerning the nation's electoral system, staunchly defending the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against allegations of partiality. He maintained, “INEC is neutral. It has never, ever intimidated anybody. If political opponents are crying wolf, then they are afraid of their own shadows and the uncertainty in the company they keep.”

During the meeting, which lasted under an hour, Tinubu informed the clerics that three years of his administration’s challenging reforms were beginning to show tangible results. He highlighted the uninterrupted academic calendar as a significant achievement that directly benefits ordinary Nigerians. He characterized the current absence of strikes from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as an answered prayer for himself and many citizens.

“None of your children in university today—and I would say they are all your children because you are Reverend Fathers—can say a four-year course is not four years. ASUU is not on strike. They are not bringing agony to your homes. Is that not an answer to our prayers? To me, that’s an answer,” he stated.

Addressing the broader economic landscape, President Tinubu acknowledged that he inherited both the advantages and burdens from the preceding Muhammadu Buhari government. Nevertheless, he asserted that economic stabilization had been achieved and that a period of greater prosperity was imminent. “This government has stabilised, and there is prosperity on the horizon. The quality of life is improving,” he remarked, adding that he had not shied away from making difficult decisions. “I inherited it. I didn’t run away. I asked for this job. I’m in it,” he affirmed.

The President also touched on the contentious issue of returning mission schools to their original proprietors, a long-standing point of contention between the Catholic Church and various state governments. Tinubu recalled that he had facilitated the return of mission schools to the Church during his tenure as governor of Lagos State, citing Cardinal Anthony Okogie as a living testament to his decision made between 1999 and 2007. However, he clarified that the authority to act on this matter lies with state governors, not the Federal Government, and encouraged the bishops to engage with the respective states.

“The schools are in the states. Preach to them, the governors of your states. They do the job. There is no need for a constitutional amendment for that. That is part of democracy. Choice,” he explained.

Regarding national unity and security, President Tinubu described Nigeria’s challenges as a generational issue that the nation must confront. He concluded, “The security situation is what it is. We don’t have another country but here. This Nigeria. And we revert to our national anthem: in its complexity and diversity, we shall thrive, live, rejoice and be good to all of us. Our founding fathers did their best. They left us a nation, and we owe it to our generations yet unborn to build a nation of unity, stability and prosperity for the future.”

The Catholic bishops, led by Archbishop Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, concluded their visit to the Presidential Villa shortly after 5:00 p.m. local time, departing the premises in a Toyota Coaster bus.