President Bola Tinubu declared on Thursday that no amount of pressure or intimidation would distract him from his constitutional duties, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to a reform agenda he insists is already yielding results for Nigerians.
Speaking at the State House, Abuja, during a meeting with the leadership and coordinators of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors—a political mobilisation network recently inaugurated to carry the administration’s message to the grassroots—Tinubu challenged critics and political opponents by asserting his mandate as the legitimate successor to former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“They want to scare me off? It’s a lie,” the President stated. “I’ve been through this path before, and if I have to come back over and over again, I’ll do the same thing. There is no better place than your own country, and no one can build it except you. During the primaries that got me here, it was tough. During the election, it was tough. Now that I’m here, all I can promise is that I won’t give up.”
Addressing the ambassadors drawn from across the country’s geopolitical zones, the President pledged to remain steadfast in his leadership. “Whatever you say I do, but one thing that you need from me is a promise that I won’t run away from this fight. With you, the deal is done,” he said.
The President’s remarks follow sustained political pressure from opposition figures and segments of civil society questioning the pace and equity of his administration’s reforms, with some calling for his resignation amid economic hardships. Notably, on April 14, the National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress and former Interior Minister, Rauf Aregbesola, described the Renewed Hope Agenda as a “classic scam” and called for the President’s resignation, citing worsening insecurity and economic challenges.
However, President Tinubu framed his reforms as necessary corrections inherited from a political partner rather than an adversary. “I didn’t have to look back because the truth is, I took over from myself. The late Buhari is me; he was a partner. If I took over from him, is that not taking over from myself? So if something is wrong, fine—live with it, correct it, and move on.”
He further urged Nigerians to respect the judiciary and the constitutional order, emphasizing the importance of the rule of law. “We cannot submit to the disobedience of a lawful court order. We must embrace the judiciary, whether it favours us or not. We submit to the principles of democracy, the separation of powers, and the dynamics of nationhood. We must build one country.”
Describing the Renewed Hope mission as a generational obligation, Tinubu added, “This is an opportunity of a lifetime to break the shackles of poverty and ignorance, to put freedom in the hearts of our people, and to ensure democracy survives—not through noise-making or the rascality of street conventions.”
The Renewed Hope Ambassadors were formally inaugurated at a summit in Abuja on February 24. At that event, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State explained that the initiative was designed to mobilise support at state and local levels for the administration’s policy agenda and the APC ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle.
Thursday’s follow-up session allowed zonal coordinators to brief the President directly. Tinubu noted that he had listened carefully to their reports and remained “energised and inspired” by their efforts.
The meeting was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, Governor Hope Uzodimma, APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, and APC National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru, among other high-ranking officials.
