President Bola Tinubu has told members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council not to expect him to accompany them to every campaign event ahead of the 2027 general election, insisting that governance and the country’s economic responsibilities must remain his priority.
Tinubu spoke on Wednesday in Abuja during the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, where he charged members to take the party’s message to voters across the states, local government areas and wards.
The President said he agreed with concerns that the demands of the campaign should not distract him from running the country, stressing that Nigeria required his attention at a critical time.
“You’ve warned me not to allow the rigour of the campaign to distract me from governance, I hear you. I am in full agreement with your decision. Nigeria needs more attention now,” he said.
Explaining why he would not attend every campaign event, Tinubu said his administration had financial obligations to meet, including international commitments.
“So, you will excuse me from going everywhere with you, we have bills to pay. The American creditors cannot wait,” the President said.
Tinubu Woos Long-Term Investors
The President also stressed the need to attract investors willing to commit resources to Nigeria’s long-term development, saying such investments would help secure a better future for the country’s children.
“We want those investors to come in, be here to stay, to invest for the future of our children,” he said.
Tinubu, however, assured Nigerians that he would continue to engage them directly even as the campaign council coordinated mobilisation across the country.
He said he would make time to communicate with citizens while council members took responsibility for spreading the APC’s message at the grassroots.
‘It’s More Than a Campaign’
Describing the inauguration as more than a political activity, Tinubu said the council’s formation represented a renewed commitment between the governing party and Nigerians.
“We have not gathered merely to inaugurate a council. We have gathered to renew a covenant. A covenant with Nigerian people and the historic responsibility they have entrusted to us as Nigeria’s governing party,” he said.
He charged members to communicate his administration’s vision, record and agenda to voters nationwide, expressing confidence that the council would take the party’s message to every ward.
The President also commended APC members for completing the party’s congresses, recalling predictions that the process could trigger internal crises.
According to him, the party overcame the challenges and emerged united, with members participating from the ward level to the national leadership.
“They said there will be implosion. We passed through it. We did not fail. You didn’t let us down. We got here together,” Tinubu said.
