*Calls For Free, Fair Elections At Meeting With Catholic Bishops

*Insists INEC Neutral

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has stated his determination to fight to finish in next year’s presidential election, saying hoping to take power from him must be prepared to “wrestle” him until the end.

    Speaking on Tuesday, July 28, while receiving members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), led by its President, Most Rev. Matthew Ndagoso, at the State House, Abuja, Tinubu dismissed concerns over the neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), insisting it has not intimidated any political party.

     Tinubu stated that political opponents seeking to unseat him in next year’s general elections must be ready to fight to the end, saying: “Those who would take it from me will try. They will try. All is fair in politics, and there is equal opportunity.

    “I won’t offer them a red carpet. I won’t offer them the leash to tie me at home. No, we will wrestle each other to the finishing point. That’s the truth. That is fair in politics.”

 : “I asked for this job. I’m in it. Those who will take it from me will try. They will try. All is fair in politics, and it’s equal opportunity.

    He vouched the neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the coming elections, saying: “INEC, you mentioned, is neutral. They’ve never, never intimidated anybody. If political opponents are crying wolves, maybe they are afraid of their own shadows and the uncertainty in the companies they keep, not me.

    “I’m ready, but I won’t give them a red carpet. I won’t offer them the leash to tie me and rope me. No, we wrestle each other to the finishing point.”  

    Tinubu strongly defended his performance in office, insisting the quality of life of Nigerians was improving, despite the challenges he inherited on assuming office.

    According to him: “The quality of life is improving. Our founding fathers did their best; they lived for the nation, and we owe it to our generations yet unborn to build the nation of unity, stability and prosperity for the future, to educate our people.

    “We don’t have another country, but here, this Nigeria. And I will refer to the national anthem that in our complexity and diversity, we shall thrive, live, rejoice and be good to all, and humanity.

    “The security situation is what it is. We don’t have another country, but here, this Nigeria. I have just approved the expansion of the armed forces. We are getting more equipment, building new barracks. We will defeat terrorism. It should be part of your sermons. I won’t deviate from our national anthem.

    “This government has stabilised, and there is prosperity on the horizon. The quality of life is improving.”

    “Yes, none of your children in the university today, and I will say all of them are your children, the reverend fathers. You can’t say a four-year course is not four years.

    “ASUU is not on strike; they are not bringing agony to your homes. Is that not an answer to our prayers? To me, that’s an answer.

    “That is all, I think. Yes, I’ve seen that. The challenges are there. I inherited it. I didn’t run away.”

    At the meeting, which lasted barely an hour, the President also discussed the return of mission schools to their original owners, recalling that he did so during his tenure as governor of Lagos State.

     He, however, said the power to act lay with state governors, not the federal government, adding: “The schools are in the states. Preach to them, the governors of your states. They do the job.

    “There is no need for a constitutional amendment for that. That is part of democracy.”

    On poverty alleviation, Tinubu assured that his government will sustain interventions that directly improve the livelihoods of families and citizens, such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), noting: “I have listened to you carefully, and most importantly, your key areas are security and education.

    “I can tell you categorically with sincerity that the country has been placed on a sound footing. The economy has recovered. The alarm for bankruptcy and dark tunnel of uncertainty that we had when I came in has been changed.

    “The spirit of the people is lifting, and the economic turmoil that we feared is cleared. The economy has been delivered from bankruptcy.

    “I always say, because of my background and profession, that I inherited the assets and liabilities of my predecessor. I have been running with it. This government has stabilised, and there is prosperity on the horizon. Life is improving.”

    Tinubu charged Nigerians to explore available opportunities for engagement provided by the government and private institutions and embrace education, entrepreneurship and skills acquisition.

    He said: “We have no control over the population growth and trajectory. That is why you have membership in your various faiths, churches, to give hope to people and give commitment to humanity in the true sense of it.

    “Our founding fathers did their best. They left us a nation, and we owe it to generations yet unborn to sustain it.”

    Earlier in his remarks, Ndagoso lauded Tinubu for the warm reception extended to the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of relations between Nigeria and the Vatican.

    He outlined areas of concern in the country, which include security, quality tertiary education and limited spaces, sustaining gains of democracy, credible elections and poverty, urging the President to consider the return of mission schools and fair treatment for all worshipers, including the provision of worship places in all parts of the country, without bias.

    Ndagoso, who is the Archbishop of Kaduna, called for free and fair elections in 2027, saying: “As a man who risked so much in the struggle for the return of democratic rule in the dark days of the military dictatorship, your greatest legacy would be the strengthening of our democratic institutions.”

    The delegation included the Archbishop of Lagos/CBCN Vice President, Alfred Martins; Bishop of Abeokuta/CBCN Secretary, Peter Odetoyinbo; Auxiliary Bishop of Owerri/CBCN Assistant Secretary, Moses Chikwe; Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan; Bishop of Ekwulobia, Peter Cardinal Okpaleke; Most Rev., Archbishops Ignatius Kiagama (Abuja); Gabriel Abegunrin (Ibadan); Valerian Okeke, Archbishop (Onitsha); Emmanuel Badejo (Oyo); Gerald Musa (Katsina); and Matthew Kukah (Sokoto).

    Also on the delegation were Callistus Onaga (Enugu); Godfrey Onah (Nsukka); Augustine Echema (Aba); Christopher Naseri (Calabar); Michael Banjo (Secretary General); Peter Audu (Director, Church and Society Department); Michael Imhadowinyi and Dickson Adeyanju.