Nigerian President: My opponents want to overthrow me through the security crisis... and I will run for a second term.

Written by: Nigeria - Boubacar Sani

The president said Nigerian Paula Tinubu said he would not back down in the face of political pressure or security challenges, describing himself as a “very stubborn politician,” and indicating that his opponents were seeking to exploit the country’s insecurity crisis to remove him from power. Authority.

Tinubu's remarks came during his reception of a delegation of leaders and stakeholders from Plateau State, headed by Governor Caleb Moftuang, inside the presidential palace in the capital Abuja, as part of discussions on the tense security situation in the state.

The Nigerian president said that some parties are trying to exploit security challenges to achieve political goals, adding: “There are those who want to use insecurity to get rid of me, but I am a very stubborn politician, I refuse to leave, and I will campaign for a second term.”.

Warning to those inciting violence

Tinobo stressed that the federal government will act forcefully against anyone found to be involved in financing or inciting violence, calling on local officials and citizens to provide security agencies with accurate information about those involved.

He added: “If you know of any rioters or instigators who want the killing to continue, inform us, and we will use all the tools of the state to deal with them.”.

He stressed that security agencies would not hesitate to take decisive action whenever reliable intelligence information was available, noting the need to break the cycle of ongoing violence in Plateau State.

Support a new peace committee

In the search for long-term solutions, the president announced his support for a new peace commission comprising former governors of Plateau State, explaining that its role would be to review previous reports and commissions on conflicts and provide unified, actionable recommendations.

Tinobo called for overcoming past disagreements and restructuring the committees if they proved ineffective, stressing that the main goal is to reach a permanent solution to the security crisis plaguing the state.

Violence escalates in Plateau State

This meeting comes after a series of deadly attacks in the Anguilla Rucopa region earlier this month, which resulted in deaths and injuries, prompting the president to intensify his consultations with local and traditional leaders.

For his part, former Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong called for a closed-door meeting of all former and current governors and traditional leaders, with the aim of speaking frankly and reaching a collective commitment to ending the violence.

Lalong said that the solution to the Plateau crisis must come from the people of the state themselves, adding that everyone has been through these experiences before and has the ability to end the conflict if the political will is there.

Early preparations for the 2027 elections

Tinobo's statements about running for a second term are an early indication of the start of political preparations for the 2027 elections, at a time when his government is facing multiple challenges including security, the economy and social pressures.

Observers believe that the president is seeking to demonstrate political toughness and enhance his leadership image, in parallel with government moves to contain security tensions in a number of Nigerian states.