By John Ogunsemore
The Bola Tinubu presidency has asked opposition figures seeking to test their popularity with Nigerians to wait for the 2027 general election.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare stated this in an X post late Saturday night.
The presidency and ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have come under intense criticism in recent times for allegedly orchestrating crises within opposition parties.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar claimed that Tinubu paid N50 million to certain opposition members to destabilise the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), an allegation the APC vehemently denied.
An APC chieftain and former Kaduna governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai described the current state of governance and opposition as a “national emergency.”
El-Rufai spoke at a national conference in Abuja on strengthening democracy in Nigeria on Monday.
Saying he no longer recognised the APC, the ex-governor urged opposition parties to unite and form a broad coalition to challenge the ruling party and protect democracy.
However, Dare charged the opposition figures to wait for the next general election to show their might.
He said, “While President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria was away in far away Dar es Salaam, capital of Tanzania, his political opponents, detractors, opposition elements, psuedo friends unfolded their Machiavellian inclinations.
“Indeed, while the President was seeking solutions to Nigerias’ energy problems in Dar es Salaam, some “wannabes “were heating up the polity.
“Expectedly, it was a gathering convened to further spread ill-will. Nothing new came out of the gathering different from the opposition script we are used to. A few of the participants went overboard in their vitriol, fanning the embers for adopting undemocratic actions.
“These political gladiators have antecedents that are well known. We urge Nigerians to begin their scrutiny early. And choose between political hecklers and real progressives. The clouds are beginning to clear. The stage sets soon. The combat begins.
“Until then, President Tinubu, an avowed democrat remains undistracted and unperturbed. The fight is ahead. Not now. The only conversation he wants to have now is how to improve the lives of Nigerian citizens and constructive discourse on building a resilient economy.
“This is 2025. Not 2027. Let those who want to test their popularity with Nigerians wait for the next election. President Tinubu is fully focused on providing the leadership that will transform our country.”