I can’t be scared, Tinubu dares opposition, says no distraction ahead of 2027 re-election bid

President Bola Tinubu has declared that no amount of pressure or intimidation will distract him from pursuing his vision for Nigeria, even as he berated opposition figures in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and confirmed his readiness to contest the 2027 election for a second term.

Speaking Thursday during a meeting with the 36 state coordinators of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors (RHA) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Tinubu dismissed any notion of fear or retreat. “Me? They want to scare me off? It’s a lie. I am Jagaban. I have been through this path before, and if I have to come back over and over again, I will do the same thing,” he said.

He charged the coordinators to uphold integrity and work collectively toward rebuilding the country, emphasizing the importance of inspiring hope among Nigerians.

“You must give them that hope, but try as much as possible, men and women of integrity that are here in this room, to build a Nigeria,” Tinubu stated, adding,

“There’s no better place than your own country, and no one can build it except you.”

Taking a direct swipe at opposition leaders in the ADC coalition, Tinubu accused them of having nothing new to contribute to Nigeria’s development.

He specifically pointed to the failed privatization efforts during the tenure of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. “No one among them is without history. The head (Atiku) was the chairman of the privatization council of Nigeria at one time. They privatized the steel industry in Delta – is it working today? They privatized Ajaokuta – is it working today? They privatized another man’s political party; that one says no,” Tinubu said.

The President further declared his intention to seek re-election in 2027, vowing to break the shackles of ignorance and poverty, put freedom in the hearts of Nigerians, and ensure democracy survives.

He said he aims to offer something different from what he called “the rascality or noise-making of a street convention.”

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

See author's posts