…mocks them, says ‘I won’t help you to organise yourselves’
President Bola Tinubu says he’s always happy seeing opposition political parties in disarray and won’t lend them any helping hand them organise themselves.
Tinubu stated this during his State of the Nation address at a joint session of the National Assembly in Abuja on Thursday. The joint session was held to commemorate the 2025 Democracy Day.
According to Tinubu, “Political parties fearful of members leaving may be better served by examining their internal processes and affairs rather than fearfully conjuring up demons that do not exist.
“For me, I would say try your best to put your house in order. I will not help you do so. It is, indeed, a pleasure to witness you in such disarray.”
The President also used the occasion to dismiss claims that his administration is pushing Nigeria into becoming a one-party state.
He said, “A one-party state is not in the offing. Nor should it ever be. That said, we would be guilty of political malpractice if we closed the door on those from other parties who now seek to join the APC and I sincerely welcome our party’s newest members from Delta and Akwa Ibom States led by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Pastor Umo Eno and other members of this National Assembly.
“We must welcome and accept the diversity and number of political parties just as we welcome and embrace the diversity of our population. Our efforts must never be to eliminate political competition but to make that competition salutary to the national well-being by working across the political aisle whenever possible.”
Tinubu also announced national honours for a number of Nigerians, including the late Kudirat Abiola, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Ken Saro-Wiwa, among others.
“I shall also be exercising my powers under the prerogative of mercy to grant these national heroes a full pardon, together with others whose names shall be announced later in conjunction with the National Council of State,” he said.
