President Bola Tinubu on Sunday cautioned Nigerians not to allow politicians with no clear vision to take the country backward.
The president also promised to consolidate the reforms his administration has embarked on, to work harder for the prosperity Nigerians have longed for, and to place the country on an irreversible path within another four years.
President Tinubu spoke when he was handed the Certificate of Return and the flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the party’s candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
While congratulating his opponent for the APC presidential ticket, Stanley Osifo, for being a good sportsman and accepting the outcome of the party primaries, he said he bore no grudge against him.
President Tinubu also expressed his willingness to dialogue with political opponents and critics of his administration.
Addressing party leaders and supporters at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja after being declared the APC presidential candidate for 2027 with 10.9 million votes, Tinubu said democracy was built not on uniformity of thought but on diversity of ideas anchored in a shared belief in the nation.
“To those who despise our philosophy, we offer dialogue and engagement, not anger, confident that the sincerity of our purpose and the results of our work will speak for themselves,” he said.
Addressing his challenger directly by name, he stated, “I owe you no grudge, including Osifo, who spent his money.”
Osifo, a businessman from Edo State, paid N100m for the APC presidential nomination form and refused to step down after a planned consensus arrangement for the primary collapsed. He polled 16,503 votes nationwide.
Tinubu said disagreement with the opposition is a feature of democracy rather than a threat.
“You may be angry with our party; we don’t have to agree. Democracy is sustained not by uniformity but by diversity, by a shared belief in the nation, and the blending of ideas,” he said.
He said the event was a celebration of another moment in the country’s democratic journey — a history not defined by any individual but by the collective resolve to build a stable, prosperous, and just nation.
“Four years ago, I stood before you as an aspirant to the highest office in our country, seeking your mandate alongside many distinguished compatriots and fellow aspirants, driven by conviction and patriotism. I recall with gratitude how I sat that night at Eagle Square beside my friend, ally, and predecessor, President Muhammadu Buhari, of blessed memory. With your support, I emerged as our party’s candidate and, months later, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
“Today, I return as your incumbent President — humbled by your enduring support, encouraged by your continued confidence, and imbued with renewed passion for the tasks ahead.
“In 2022, our task was to chart a new direction for our party and nation. Today, our task is to affirm that continuity is essential — to consolidate reform, secure progress, and strengthen the foundation of a modern Nigeria.
