President Bola Tinubu has told opposition parties to stop blaming him for their internal crises and organisational failures, asserting that managing their affairs is not his responsibility.
In a statement issued yesterday by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu described accusations of authoritarianism against his administration as baseless and exaggerated, insisting that democracy remains strong and alive in Nigeria. He further noted that politicians changing party affiliation is a common practice even in advanced democracies and should not be viewed with suspicion.
Responding to recent concerns about the wave of defections from opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Tinubu questioned why defections like that of former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) were celebrated, while similar movements toward the APC were condemned.
“We have read the alarming claims of disgruntled opposition figures and partisan human rights crusaders over recent defections,” the statement read. “Democracy is not under any threat in Nigeria, and no action from the Presidency seeks to dismantle democracy or weaken opposition parties.”
The President dismissed allegations of bribery, blackmail, and coercion linked to the defections, describing them as baseless and a product of opposition figures searching for scapegoats. He emphasised that Nigerians migrating to the APC are doing so voluntarily, in support of his administration’s reform agenda.
Tinubu also criticised opposition elements for crying wolf, arguing that their fears of a one-party state are unfounded. “It is hypocrisy writ large when opposition politicians who once cheered the formation of regional coalitions against the President now complain about the political shifts in favour of the APC,” the statement said.
Highlighting his longstanding commitment to democratic ideals, Tinubu pointed to his history of building opposition platforms that once unseated a sitting government, asserting his credibility as a firm believer in multiparty democracy.
He urged Nigerians to continue to respect freedom of association and expression, and to reject what he termed “alarmist narratives” designed to sow discord. “Under President Tinubu, democracy remains resilient, and the multiparty system will continue to thrive,” Onanuga concluded.
