President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday openly taunted Nigeria’s opposition parties, saying he derives “pleasure” from watching them unravel and has no intention of helping them restore unity within their ranks.
Speaking during his State of the Nation Address at a special joint session of the National Assembly to commemorate Democracy Day, Tinubu dismissed concerns about growing defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and allegations of an orchestrated move toward a one-party state.
“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,” the President told lawmakers.
He added pointedly: “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.
However, the president waved off those fears, maintaining that his government is not deliberately pushing Nigeria toward a single-party system. He argued that defections reflect internal weaknesses within the opposition, not executive manipulation.
