…extends hand of fellowship to Opposition
…promises ireversible path to industrialization, food sufficiency if re-elected
By Taiwo Scholastica
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally accepted the All Presidents Congress (APC) presidential ticket for the 2027 election, pledging to lead an even more inclusive government that listens, learns, and operates strictly with the best interests of all Nigerians at heart.
Speaking on Sunday at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, the President emphasized that maintaining leadership continuity is vital to securing recent institutional progress and strengthening the structural foundations of a modern Nigeria.
He expressed deep gratitude to party leaders, state governors, lawmakers, and rank-and-file members of the ruling party for their unwavering support and continued confidence in his administration.
President Tinubu also seized the occasion to reach out to his political opponents, extending an open hand of partnership and dialogue.
The President stated that he extends a hand of partnership in nation-building to those who may disagree politically, offering dialogue and engagement to those who differ with his philosophy, confident that the sincerity of purpose and the results of his work will speak for themselves.
Tinubu reminded the nation that democracy is sustained not by uniformity, but by diversity and the constructive blending of different ideas.
He cautioned citizens against complacency, warning against allowing politicians with no clear alternative vision to take the country backwards in the January 2027 polls.
Instead, he framed the upcoming election as a definitive reaffirmation of Nigeria’s democratic maturity.
Reflecting on his journey since emerging as the party’s flagbearer at Eagle Square in 2022, the President paid tribute to his predecessor, the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He noted that while the political and economic landscapes have evolved significantly over the past three years, his administration’s focus remains fixed on executing difficult but necessary structural reforms.
Addressing the macroeconomy, Tinubu defended the removal of the costly fuel subsidy and the adjustments made to the foreign exchange market.
He noted that despite global inflationary disruptions which he attributed to the war in Iran and broader geopolitical crises in the Middle East, the nation’s fiscal policies have boosted revenue collection for the federation, stabilized the naira, and caused foreign reserves to rise.
The President further highlighted several milestone achievements recorded under his administration as proof of performance, pointing first to human capital development through the successful establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which has disbursed over N282 billion to more than 1.5 million youth beneficiaries to remove financial barriers to higher education.
In the power sector, the administration has actively worked to eliminate estimated billing by distributing 2.5 million meters under the Presidential Metering Initiative, while simultaneously creating a N4 trillion bond programme to settle legacy debts owed to GENCOs and GASCOs.
The President noted that grid power generation under his watch has occasionally peaked at 6,000MW, representing a 50 percent increase over the capacity his administration inherited, as part of a broader strategy to make the sector bankable and investable.
Infrastructure expansion has also served as a major engine for growth, highlighted by the ongoing construction of durable, concrete superhighways along the nation’s coast and the critical Sokoto-Badagry route designed to last for generations.
This is being paired with long-overdue modernizations of national airports and seaports, alongside sweeping regulatory reforms in the oil and gas sector that have successfully attracted billions of dollars in fresh investments into a previously comatose industry.
However, President Tinubu stated that his administration does not govern in comfort, but in reality, openly acknowledging the severe economic adjustments, inflation, and rising costs currently affecting vulnerable households, women, and small businesses across the country.
On national security, the President reiterated his unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and property, detailing ongoing investments in advanced intelligence, surveillance, and modern equipment for the military and police forces.
The President urged the National Assembly to amend the Constitution as a matter of national emergency to allow for the creation of State Police, ensuring closer partnership with local communities to eradicate insecurity entirely.
Closing his address with the lines of the national anthem, Tinubu urged Nigerians to stand together in brotherhood across all tribes and tongues.
He promised that another four years of disciplined focus would place the country on an irreversible trajectory toward industrialization, food sufficiency, energy security, and robust economic expansion.
With his formal acceptance of the nomination, the APC structure is expected to fully activate its nationwide campaign machinery ahead of the general elections scheduled for January 2027.