“They don’t believe in democracy they preach”, Tinubu jabs opposition leaders 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken a swipe at opposition politicians, accusing them of hypocrisy and lack of faith in the democratic system, while urging his allies to remain focused on governance.

Speaking on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during a visit by a delegation from Enugu State led by Governor Peter Mbah, the President said critics of his administration should be ignored.

“They don’t even believe in the democracy that they preach all about. Don’t pay attention to them,” Tinubu said.

He advised political leaders aligned with his administration to stay committed to their goals despite opposition criticism.

“Democracy will survive despite all the intimidations… Stay focused and believe in yourself as you have been doing. When you are succeeding and they are angry, leave them in their corner,” he added.

Tinubu’s remarks come amid heightened political rhetoric across party lines ahead of the 2027 general elections.  

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had recently derecognised the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over lingering factional crisis, triggering protests from the opposition parties who accused Tinubu-led administration of undermining democracy in the country. 

The President also defended his economic policies, maintaining that Nigeria is making steady progress, particularly in key sectors such as infrastructure, security, education, and healthcare.

“These results… are evidence that reform is still working, that difficult decisions are yielding real outcomes, and that Nigeria is moving forward,” he said.

He also highlighted ongoing reforms in the rail and power sectors, noting that long-standing structural challenges are being addressed.

“What has been the problem in the past is Nigerians trying to finance long-term projects with short-term funding… I will do more,” Tinubu stated.

Reaffirming Nigeria’s position on the continent, the President said the country remains a leading force in Africa’s economic landscape.

“When you look at African growth and economic opportunity today, Nigeria is still leading,” he said.

Tinubu further stressed the importance of collective responsibility in nation-building, calling for stronger collaboration across all levels of government.

“It’s not a one-man affair. It’s a collective effort at the national, sub-national, and local government levels,” he noted.