President Bola Tinubu says he’s not the mastermind of defections from opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
He stressed that he neither coerced nor pressured anyone to abandon their political platforms for the ruling party.
Tinubu stated during an interfaith Iftar on Wednesday with senators at the Presidential Villa, where he addressed claims that his administration is working to weaken opposition parties.
Tinubu in his response to critics, said they were entitled to their opinions but rejected accusations of wrongdoing.
The President added that he could not fault politicians who chose to defect, likening their decisions to leaving a “sinking ship,” while pointing to terrorism and banditry as major national challenges contributing to political tensions.
He said, “Critics must talk. When they accused me of killing the opposition, but I didn’t have a gun. I could have given myself a licence when I have 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.
The President urged political leaders to prioritise 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,” he said.
