President Bola Tinubu has dismissed claims that his administration is weakening opposition parties or attempting to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, insisting that political criticism is a normal part of democratic leadership.
Gatekeepers News reports that speaking on Wednesday during an interfaith breakfast with senators at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Tinubu said accusations that he was undermining opposition parties were unfounded.
“Critics will always talk and give you names,” the president said. “When they accused me of killing the opposition, I didn’t have a gun. I could have even issued myself a licence, since I have the authority.”
He stressed that Nigeria’s security challenges, including terrorism and banditry, require unity rather than political division, urging leaders and citizens to uphold democratic principles.
“I can’t blame anyone for jumping out of a sinking ship,” Tinubu said. “What this country has faced in this difficult period — terrorism and banditry — has caused enormous damage. We must pull together and unite as our forefathers envisioned to sustain constitutional democracy. They did not say we should fight.”
The president also defended his administration’s economic reforms, describing them as necessary measures to tackle corruption and stabilise the economy, particularly in the fuel subsidy and foreign exchange systems.
“I have received a lot of credit for bold reforms, but without your collaboration and support, they would not have been possible. We are reformers together,” he said. “What we stopped was monumental corruption in the subsidy regime. We do not want to be part of corruption or foreign-exchange arbitrage.”
Tinubu expressed optimism about the country’s economic outlook, saying recent reforms were already producing positive results.
“You don’t need to chase me for dollars; you can see where Nigeria is today,” he said. “We are enjoying a more stable economy, and prosperity is ahead of us. This requires hard work and collective commitment.”
His remarks come amid growing criticism from opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), which have faced internal crises and defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Opposition leaders have accused the APC of exploiting internal divisions to weaken rival parties and consolidate political dominance, allegations Tinubu has repeatedly denied.
The president has maintained that opposition parties should address their internal challenges rather than blame the ruling party, while reiterating his commitment to political plurality and democratic governance.
