President Bola Tinubu has declared that he is fully prepared for the 2027 presidential battle, warning opposition forces that defeating him will require a tough fight.
The President made the declaration on Tuesday when he received members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), led by its president, Most Rev. Matthew Ndagoso, at the State House in Abuja.
Tinubu dismissed claims that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could be influenced in favour of any political party, insisting that the electoral body remains neutral.
“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.
“INEC, you mentioned, is neutral. They’ve never, never intimidated anybody. If political opponents are crying wolves, maybe they are afraid of their own shadows and the uncertainty in the companies they keep, not me.
“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,” Tinubu said.
The President also defended his administration’s performance, arguing that Nigerians were beginning to experience improvements despite the challenges inherited from previous governments.
“The quality of life is improving. Our founding fathers did their best; they lived for the nation, and we owe it to our generations yet unborn to build the nation of unity, stability and prosperity for the future, to educate our people.”
Highlighting developments in the education sector, Tinubu said university students had enjoyed uninterrupted academic sessions under his administration.
“Yes. None of your children in the university today, and I will say all of them are your children, the reverend fathers.
“You can’t 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.”
Addressing Nigeria’s security challenges, the President acknowledged the difficulties but insisted his administration remained committed to tackling them.
“The security situation is what it is. We don’t have another country, but here, this Nigeria.”
Tinubu added that despite the nation’s diversity and challenges, Nigerians could still build a stronger and more prosperous country.
“And then we revert to our national anthem. In this complexity, diversity, we shall thrive, live, rejoice and be good to all of us, as humanity.
“And that is all, I think. Yes, I’ve seen that. The challenges are there. I inherited it. I didn’t run away,” he added.
