President Bola Tinubu has portrayed his administration as a direct continuation of his predecessor’s, declaring that he “took over leadership from myself” and describing the late Muhammadu Buhari as “me” and a close governance partner.
Tinubu made the remarks on Thursday while addressing the national, zonal and state leadership of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors at the State House in Abuja.
“The truth is I took over from myself. The late Buhari is me; he was a partner. If I took over from him, is that not from myself?” the president stated.
He acknowledged the current economic difficulties facing Nigerians but urged patience, saying reforms would not be easy. “If something is wrong, fine live with it, correct it, move on. It’s not going to be easy,” Tinubu added.
Turning to his supporters, the president expressed confidence that their loyalty would be rewarded. “So many of you that are travelling with me, I can stand before you, you will not regret it,” he assured the gathering.
Tinubu also dismissed opposition efforts to unsettle his government. “They want to scare me off. It’s a lie. I’ve been through this path before, and if I have to come back over and over again, I’ll do the same thing,” he declared.
The Renewed Hope Ambassadors, a pro-government mobilisation group, serve as a platform to promote the administration’s policies at the grassroots level ahead of future political contests.
The president’s comments come as his administration grapples with public discontent over economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the liberalisation of the foreign exchange market, which have contributed to high inflation and living costs.
No immediate reaction was available from the opposition or representatives of the late President Buhari’s family. The meeting was part of ongoing efforts by the ruling All Progressives Congress to consolidate support for Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
