President Bola Tinubu and VP Kashim Shettima
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described opposition politicians seeking to unseat him in 2027 as “angry failures,” insisting that his administration has more to offer Nigerians through economic recovery, growth and expanded opportunities.
The president spoke on Saturday at the flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign in Kaduna, where he defended his administration’s economic reforms and urged voters to renew his mandate for a second term.
Tinubu said his government was committed to tackling poverty, sustaining economic recovery and improving the living conditions of Nigerians, arguing that opposition politicians had failed to offer a credible alternative to his policies.
“Our opponents are angry because they are failures. They have nothing to offer you but hatred. We have prosperity, consistency, growth, recovery and opportunity. I assure you,” the president declared before thousands of APC supporters at the campaign rally.
Responding to criticism over the economic hardship facing Nigerians, Tinubu said his administration was pursuing policies aimed at reducing poverty, creating opportunities and strengthening the economy.
He also cited regular payment of salaries by governments as evidence of progress, commending APC governors for what he described as their developmental efforts across the country.
“I hear my opponents talking about poverty, poverty. The criteria of poverty, we are trying to eradicate it. We pay salaries regularly. Our governors are working. I am proud of them. They are developing,” he said.
The president assured Nigerians, particularly young people, that a second term would consolidate the gains of his administration’s reforms and deliver greater prosperity, continuity and development.
“To you, the children of our country, it’s a promise of the second term, prosperity. You will not regret voting,” he told the gathering.
Tinubu also defended the removal of fuel subsidy, insisting that the policy had ended practices he associated with corruption, falsification of invoices and smuggling under the previous arrangement.
“What is past is the past. Fuel subsidy is in our past. No more corruption. No more falsification of invoices. No more lies. No more smuggling,” he said.
The president urged Nigerians not to be misled by opposition politicians, maintaining that his administration was laying the foundation for sustainable economic recovery and a better future.
He expressed appreciation to the people of Kaduna State for supporting him during the 2023 presidential election, saying their votes contributed to his emergence as president.
Tinubu subsequently appealed for another mandate in 2027, pledging to sustain his administration’s agenda of prosperity, continuity, progress and development.
“I must thank you for participating in the past elections. You gave me joy. Remember the victory you gave me to become President. I must again thank you for that, and again seek your mandate for the second term, to keep the promise of prosperity, continuity, progress and development,” he said.
The president also urged eligible voters to obtain and safeguard their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), stressing that participation in the electoral process would determine the country’s political direction in 2027.
“Do you have your PVC? Do you have your PVC? Show your hands. Your hands up,” he asked supporters as he encouraged them to prepare for the forthcoming elections.
He called on voters to support APC candidates in governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and state House of Assembly elections, arguing that continuity across the different levels of government would help sustain the party’s development agenda.
“APC all the way. APC for our governors, APC for our senators, APC for our honourable members of the assembly, and all Houses of Assembly. Your prosperity is here. Your vote is in your hand,” Tinubu declared.
He further commended APC governors for their performance, particularly in the payment of workers’ salaries and the execution of development projects, urging them to sustain their efforts towards improving the welfare of residents.
Tinubu thanked the people of Kaduna State and party supporters for their turnout at the rally, reiterating his administration’s commitment to economic recovery, growth and expanded opportunities if re-elected in 2027.
“We promise you a better tomorrow,” he said.
