“When They Accused Me of Killing Opposition, I Didn’t Have a Gun” — Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has denied accusations that he is attempting to weaken the opposition or transform Nigeria into a one-party state.

Speaking on Wednesday at an interfaith breakfast with senators at the presidential villa in Abuja, Tinubu acknowledged that criticism is part of public life but rejected claims that he was involved in “killing opposition.”

“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.

Tinubu highlighted ongoing national challenges, including terrorism and banditry, calling for unity to address these issues. He emphasized that the country’s founding fathers envisioned collaboration, not conflict.

The president also defended his administration’s economic reforms, which he said were achieved through collective effort and aimed at curbing corruption. He cited the reduction of corruption in subsidy systems and regulation of foreign exchange as examples of progress.

“You don’t have to chase me for dollars; you can see what Nigeria is today. We are enjoying a stable economy, and prosperity is beckoning us,” Tinubu said.

The remarks follow earlier statements in which Tinubu criticized the opposition for internal divisions. During his 2025 Democracy Day address, he noted defections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), framing these moves as responses to party instability rather than APC interference.

Reiterating support for political plurality, Tinubu encouraged governors elected under other parties to consider joining the APC, describing it as a pragmatic choice in a “coalition of confusion.”