President Bola Tinubu says his political opponents who are “crying wolf” about alleged favouritism ahead of the 2027 elections are “afraid of their own shadows and uncertainty in the companies they keep”.
Tinubu spoke on Tuesday when he received the leadership of
the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), led by Matthew Ndagoso, its
president, at the State House in Abuja.
Ndagoso, the archbishop of Kaduna, attended the meeting with
19 other CBCN leaders.
Tinubu said the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) is neutral and noting that all political parties have equal
opportunities.
“The opportunities are equal. INEC is neutral. They have
never intimidated anyone,” Tinubu was quoted as saying in a statement issued on
Tuesday by Bayo Onanuga, the presidential spokesperson.
“If political opponents are crying wolf, maybe they are
afraid of their own shadows and uncertainty in the companies they keep, not
me.”
Ahead of the 2027 elections, the opposition parties have
repeatedly accused INEC of undermining their activities to favour the ruling
All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking on the country’s security challenges, the president
said his administration is addressing them through enhanced intelligence
gathering and restructuring and repositioning of security institutions.
Tinubu assured the clerics that Nigeria would defeat
terrorism and that citizens would live in peace in the country.
“We don’t have another country but here – this Nigeria. And
I will refer to the national anthem that in our complexity and diversity, we
shall thrive, live, rejoice and be good to all, and humanity,” he said.
“I have just approved the expansion of the armed forces. We
are getting more equipment, building new barracks.
“We will defeat terrorism. It should be part of your
sermons. I won’t deviate from our national anthem.”
‘THE ECONOMY HAS RECOVERED’
On the nation’s economy, the president said he inherited the
liabilities and the assets of his predecessor and has been steering the country
since assuming office.
Tinubu said the economy has stabilised from “bankruptcy and
dark tunnel of uncertainty”, adding that prosperity is on the horizon.
“I have listened to you carefully, and most importantly,
your key areas are security and education. I can tell you categorically with
sincerity that the country has been placed on a sound footing,” the president
said.
“The economy has recovered. The alarm for bankruptcy and
dark tunnel of uncertainty that we had when I came in has been changed.
“The spirit of the people is lifting, and the economic
turmoil that we feared is cleared. The economy has been delivered from
bankruptcy.
“I always say, because of my background and profession, that
I inherited the assets and liabilities of my predecessor. I have been running
with it. This government has stabilised, and there is prosperity on the
horizon. Life is improving.”
‘YOUR GREATEST LEGACY IS STRENGTHENING DEMOCRATIC
INSTITUTIONS’
Addressing the president, Ndagoso commended Tinubu for the
warm reception extended to Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s secretary for
relations with states and international organisations, during his visit to
Nigeria.
The archbishop of Kaduna asked the president to consider the
return of mission schools and fair treatment for all worshipers.
The archbishop called for free and fair elections, adding
that Tinubu’s greatest legacy is the strengthening of democratic institutions.
“As a man who risked so much in the struggle for the return
of democratic rule in the dark days of the military dictatorship, your greatest
legacy would be the strengthening of our democratic institutions,” the cleric
said.
The Catholic leaders who attended the meeting are Alfred
Martins, archbishop of Lagos/CBCN vice-president; Peter Odetoyinbo, bishop of
Abeokuta/CBCN secretary; Moses Chikwe, auxiliary bishop of Owerri/CBCN
assistant secretary; John Onaiyekan, archbishop emeritus of Abuja; Peter
Okpaleke, bishop of Ekwulobia; Ignatius Kaigama, archbishop of Abuja; Gabriel
Abegunrin, archbishop of Ibadan; Valerian Okeke, archbishop of Onitsha;
Emmanuel Badejo, bishop of Oyo; Gerald Musa, bishop of Katsina; and Matthew
Kukah, bishop of Sokoto.
Others are Callistus Onaga, bishop of Enugu; Godfrey Onah,
bishop of Nsukka; Augustine Echema, bishop of Aba; Christopher Naseri,
auxiliary bishop of Calabar; Michael Banjo, secretary general; Peter Audu,
director, church and society department; Michael Imhadowinyi; and Dickson
Adeyanju.
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