In a meeting with traditional rulers, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu emphasized the importance of democratic processes, encouraging Nigerians dissatisfied with his administration to vote him out in the 2027 presidential election rather than resorting to violence. The meeting, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, aimed to address the looming hardship protests planned for August 1-10, 2024.
According to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, President Tinubu stressed the need for dialogue and reiterated his commitment to ending Nigeria’s economic hardship. “The President has said, ‘Any leader that you don’t like, wait until 2027 and vote him out.’ He is open to dialogue,” the Ooni of Ife quoted President Tinubu as saying.
President Tinubu’s remarks come amid growing discontent among Nigerians over the state of the economy, with core and food inflation rates standing at 34.19% and 40.87%, respectively. However, the President remains optimistic, assuring Nigerians that the economy is on the path to recovery and promising better days ahead.
The Ooni of Ife emphasized the importance of unity and collective responsibility, stating, “We are all stakeholders in this country and are stronger as a nation than individually… It is very difficult to build, but it is the easiest to destroy.”
