President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has dismissed allegations that he is stifling Nigeria’s opposition, declaring pointedly that he does not even have a licence to own a gun.
The President made the remark on Wednesday during an interfaith breaking of fast (Iftar) with senators at the Presidential Villa, where he addressed concerns about the state of the nation’s democracy.
Responding to critics who accused him of “killing the opposition,” Tinubu said detractors were entitled to their opinions but insisted he had committed no wrongdoing.
“Critics must talk; when they accused me of killing the opposition, I didn’t have a gun. I could have given myself a licence when I have the authority,” he said.
While defending his administration, the President acknowledged the difficult period Nigeria is navigating, citing terrorism and banditry as major threats destabilising parts of the country.
He said he does not blame individuals who choose to abandon what he described as a “sinking ship,” noting that the security and economic challenges have tested national resilience.
Tinubu, however, called on political leaders to close ranks and work towards unity, in line with the vision of Nigeria’s founding fathers. He stressed that constitutional democracy was designed to foster cooperation rather than conflict.
“We should unite in a way that our forefathers contemplated to bring about a constitutional democracy to pull us together. It didn’t say that we should fight; it’s a good thing that we are working in harmony,” he added.
The President’s comments come amid ongoing political realignments and heightened debate over the strength and direction of Nigeria’s opposition landscape.