President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has hit back at critics who claim he is behind the wave of defections from opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking during an interfaith breaking of the fast with members of the Senate at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday night, Tinubu dismissed the allegations, saying he never coerced or pressured anyone to switch political platforms.
“Critics say I killed the opposition,” Tinubu said, pausing to let the words sink in.
“But I didn’t have a gun. I could have given myself a licence if I wanted. Yet, I didn’t. People left on their own. They jumped out of a sinking ship.”
For the President, the issue is not about political battles or accusations. He warned that Nigeria is facing more urgent challenges than internal party politics.
“What we have faced in this country, terrorism, banditry, is causing havoc across communities. These are issues that demand our attention. We should pull together, unite in a way that our forefathers contemplated, to strengthen constitutional democracy, not fight each other.”
Tinubu stressed that defections, while making headlines, are not the result of intimidation or abuse of power. He likened them to individuals making personal choices in difficult circumstances.
“I can’t blame anybody for leaving a ship that is sinking. People act according to their conscience, not because someone tells them to.”
The President also addressed lawmakers directly, urging the National Assembly to begin discussions on constitutional amendments that would pave the way for state police. According to him, this step is critical to improving security and protecting vulnerable citizens, including children, from criminal activities in forests and rural communities.
Observers note, as ENigeria Newspaper gathered, that Tinubu’s remarks come at a time when defections are dominating political conversations in the country. Opposition parties have voiced concerns that such movements weaken multiparty democracy, but Tinubu insists that political choice remains a personal matter.
In his address, the President called for national unity, urging all Nigerians, politicians, lawmakers, and citizens alike, to focus on collective efforts toward peace and security.
“This is not about who wins or loses politically. It’s about building a country where democracy thrives, where people feel safe, and where our future generations can grow without fear,” he said.
With the country still struggling with insurgency, kidnapping, and banditry, Tinubu framed the defections debate as secondary to more pressing matters.
