President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, lashed out at those behind a proposed political coalition aimed at stopping his re-election bid in 2027.
Speaking while inaugurating legacy projects executed by Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, in Lafia, the President described the politicians planning coalition as political “internally displaced persons.”
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, ex-Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, among others, are planning a coalition to unseat the President in Tinubu.
El-Rufai, in an interview aired on Arise TV on Monday, claimed that polling carried out by the coalition suggested there was no way out for Tinubu to win the 2027 election.
However, addressing the reported coalition of opposition forces on Wednesday, Tinubu dismissed the alliance as an early and misguided political move.
“Those who have triggered the early politics in the perdition of the coalition suddenly, don’t pay them any attention; they are the political IDPs. Don’t give them a home; the hope is here,” the President said.
Tinubu said he would not be silent while opposition figures plotted to unseat him.
He said, “I’m not geared for what they tried to pull on me. Early political campaign, but who is the politician who will keep quiet when the gangsters are forming a coalition to unseat themselves?”
“Despite ongoing economic challenges, Tinubu maintained that his administration had made significant progress.
“We’ve cut the waste. I won’t say much about the economic dynamism that we’re facing, but the hope is here. From this moment on, you’ll have no regret,” he said.
Commending the governor’s performance, Tinubu said, “Sule is doing well because Bola Tinubu is doing well, too.”
He also applauded Sule’s prudent use of the state’s resources and pledged the Federal Government’s continued support for Nasarawa.
“I could see hard work coming from A.A. Sule, who is determined to use the resources available to him for the benefit, stability, and prosperity of Nasarawa State,” Tinubu stated.
He also reaffirmed his support for the governor and commended the First Lady of Nasarawa State for her contributions.
The President inaugurated the over N16bn Lafia flyover, the dualised Shendam Road and the new secretariat complex.
He arrived at the Usman Dan Fodio Airport in Lafia, the state capital around 1:55 pm via Nigeria Air Force 5N-FGT 001, and was received by Governor Abdullahi Sule, alongside other critical stakeholders of the state.
Speaking at the event, Sule noted that the flyover and its accompanying underpass spanned one kilometre and was completed within one year of its commencement.
He added that the contractor had been paid 100 per cent for the work done.
“Your Excellency, this is the first project that you are going to inaugurate for us. It is actually a combination of an underpass and a flyover covering one kilometre, and this road was built within one year because of your reforms.
“We have paid the contractor 100 per cent without borrowing one naira. Because of your reforms, that is why we have been able to do this in a state like Nasarawa,” he said.
The governor, thereafter, announced the name of the flyover and underpass as “Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Interchange.”
The President also visited the palace of the Emir of Lafia, after which he supervised the distribution of armoured vehicles and pickup vehicles numbering about 60 to security agencies.
Tinubu was accompanied by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje, Governors of Niger, Benue, Kwara, Kaduna, Imo, Ogun and Barno states; ministers, senators, among others.
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has stated that President Tinubu is interested in a vibrant opposition, urging the opposition Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party to put their houses in order.
Akpabio made the statement during the inauguration of Arterial Road N20 Interchange Bridges.
Referencing the recent crisis in the PDP regarding the position of the National Secretary of the party, and the recent defection of the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, Neda Imasuen, from the Labour Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress, Akpabio said the President was saddened to see the opposition in disarray.
“However, you people got yourself into this confusion, try and get yourself out of it very quickly.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is interested in seeing a vibrant opposition.
“As a true democrat, we would like to see a very vibrant opposition in the country. It saddens him when he sees the way the opposition in Nigeria is in disarray,” he said.
Akpabio added, “Just before I came here to represent him (Tinubu), I received and read a letter from the Labour Party.
“So it’s not only PDP that is in disarray, even the Labour Party is cracked and people who are strong members of the Labour Party are angling to run Nigeria when they cannot put a small political party like that in order.”
Akpabio also stated that he wasn’t tired of receiving defectors to the APC, adding that the party’s doors were open.
“Senator Neda Imasuen just decamped this afternoon from the Labour Party and moved from the left-hand side of the Senate to the right-hand side. So that took my time, Honourable Minister, I had to do that ritual.
“I’m not tired. I’m happy to receive them because our doors are open in the All Progressive Congress.
“So congratulations to Imasuen, who has decided to leave the fractured Labour Party to join the APC,” Akpabio stated.
