President Bola Tinubu has refuted allegations that he is behind defections from opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, insisting he neither coerced nor pressured anyone to abandon their political platforms.
The president addressed allegations that his government is attempting to undermine opposition parties during an interfaith Iftar with senators at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday.
Tinubu responded to critics by stating that while they had the right to their opinions, he denied any misconduct.
He went on to say that he could not blame lawmakers who made the decision to defect, comparing their choices to abandoning a “sinking ship” and citing banditry and terrorism as significant national issues that fuel political unrest.
“Critics must talk. When they accused me of killing the opposition, I didn’t have a gun. I could have given myself a license when I had the authority.
“But I can’t blame anybody for jumping out of a sinking ship if they did. What we have faced in the challenging period of this country, the terrorism and banditry, is causing us havoc.
Tinubu urged political leaders to prioritize unity in line with the vision of Nigeria’s founding fathers, stressing that constitutional democracy is meant to foster cooperation rather than conflict.
“And we should pull together, unite in a way that our forefathers contemplated, to bring about a constitutional democracy and pull us together. They didn’t say we should fight. It’s a good thing that we are working in harmony.”
