President Bola Tinubu has challenged political aspirants seeking to lead Nigeria to move beyond rhetoric, insisting that they must explain the cost of their campaign promises and demonstrate how they intend to sustain them.
The President argued that government commitments must be backed by credible, financially sound plans to avoid saddling future generations with unsustainable debt.
In a post on his X handle on Sunday, the President noted that while leaders have a duty to provide immediate relief to citizens, they must also act as stewards of the nation’s long-term economic health.
“As President, I have a duty to provide relief today without compromising our children’s future. Every commitment must be sustainable and backed by a credible plan. That responsibility guides our decisions, including the difficult ones,” he stated.
Taking a jab at populist campaigning, the President warned that promises are easy to manufacture when the bill is deferred.
“Anyone seeking to lead Nigeria should be prepared to explain what their promises will cost, how they will deliver them, and whether they can sustain them. Promises are easy to make when the costs can be postponed, leaving Nigerians and future generations to pay the bill,” he added.
During the exchange, the President referenced the personal stories of several citizens—Blessing, Ada, Abigail, and Kabir—noting that their experiences serve as a benchmark for the impact of his administration’s investments on daily life.
Responding to a request from a citizen named Emmanuel, the President acknowledged that his government still has significant work to do regarding the delivery of essential services.
“Emmanuel, your request reminds me of the work still ahead. I know many more Nigerians like you are waiting for these services,” Tinubu said.
He reiterated that his administration’s priority remains the expansion of affordable transportation across the country, a task he noted requires deep cooperation with state governments.
“Our responsibility is to keep expanding access until affordable transportation becomes a reality for more communities across our country. That is the work we will continue in collaboration with the states,” he said.
