President Bola Tinubu has again cautioned opposition parties to focus on resolving internal rifts ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying their disunity—not suppression—is their greatest threat.
Speaking through Senate President Godswill Akpabio at the commissioning of the Left-Hand Service Carriageway of the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX II) in Abuja on Friday, Tinubu reiterated that it is not his job to organize the opposition.
“The President wants you to come together. If you cannot, he cannot help you,” Akpabio said, mocking claims that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is trying to weaken opposition voices.
He added that constant criticism without constructive engagement was not helping the opposition’s cause. “You condemn everything. Was Nigeria like this in 1960? Was Abuja like this three years ago?” he asked.
The event also saw the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, defend his decision to rename the International Conference Centre (ICC) after President Tinubu. Dismissing criticism over the gesture, Wike said the President’s contributions to Abuja’s transformation deserve recognition.
“Everything in that centre was changed except the block work. If you love this country, you cannot criticize,” Wike declared, denying allegations that the project cost was inflated. Built in 1991 for ₦240 million, the ICC was refurbished for ₦39 billion. Wike attributed the cost difference to inflation and evolving construction standards.
Taking aim at detractors, Wike added, “If you’re not happy it was named after the President, go and kill yourself. I have land to bury you.”
He insisted he had the right—and the capacity—to defend Tinubu, noting that his loyalty would remain with the President, not critics. “I’m not here to please unnecessarily critical people. I will continue to give you high blood pressure,” Wike said.
On opposition coalitions, Wike ridiculed recent alliance efforts, claiming they “died on the day of conception” and had little political weight.
Meanwhile, political analyst and Director of Development Specs Academy, Dr. Okey Ikechukwu, delivered a scathing assessment of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), warning that the party could be politically decimated in 2027 if its internal conflicts persist.
“The PDP has become a shell of its former self,” Ikechukwu said, adding that the party has shifted from mobilizing voters to managing infighting. “It will participate, but not contest. It will be carried out on a stretcher unless a drastic change happens.”
He argued that Wike, despite his controversial role in the PDP, remains a valuable political figure. “Wike is not a fool. He’s an asset to whoever he supports. The PDP’s failure to manage him is their own failure,” he said.
Responding to growing concerns that the APC intends to establish a one-party state, Tinubu dismissed the notion as baseless. Speaking on Democracy Day, he said the real issue lies within opposition ranks.
“At no time—past, present, or future—will I view a one-party state as good for Nigeria,” Tinubu said. “Opposition parties should look inward, not invent demons.”
With less than two years until the next general election, the political landscape remains tense. While the ruling party leans on completed infrastructure and internal cohesion, the opposition appears entangled in unresolved disputes, missed opportunities, and a fading sense of strategy.
