ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- President Bola Tinubu on Sunday admitted that the economic reforms introduced by his administration had come with painful consequences, saying he had personally lost sleep and weight alongside Nigerians grappling with hardship.
The President made the remarks in Abuja shortly after emerging as the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
Tinubu spoke at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre after accepting the party’s ticket following the nationwide APC presidential primary.
Addressing party leaders, governors, and supporters, the President acknowledged the difficulties many Nigerians had endured since the introduction of key economic reforms by his administration.
He, however, insisted that the policies were necessary to stabilise and rebuild the country.
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“I know what it takes to reform this nation we met in tatters. If you lost sleep, I’ve lost some too. If you’ve lost weight, I’ve lost some too,” Tinubu said.
“But I’ve always remembered one thing: in 2022, I asked for this job. You all supported me and I got it. So I must do it.”
The President formally accepted the APC nomination and expressed gratitude to party members for giving him another opportunity to seek re-election in 2027.
“I accept with profound humility and gratitude the nomination of our great party, the APC, to stand again as your presidential candidate in the 2027 election,” he said.
Tinubu defeated his sole challenger, Stanley Osifo, in the nationwide direct primary election conducted across the country on Saturday.
According to the final result, the President polled 10,999,162 votes, while Osifo secured 16,503 votes.
Reflecting on the conduct of the exercise, Tinubu praised party members for what he described as a peaceful and orderly democratic process across the 774 local government areas and 8,809 wards nationwide.
He said the absence of violence and political rancour during the primary reflected the growth of Nigeria’s democracy.
“I was glued to the television after voting. I saw the mammoth crowd in Kano and Kaduna, the city boy walking the streets of Calabar,” Tinubu stated.
“It was a good feeling to see that there was no bloodshed, no rancour. This is politics in earnest. This is where we want Nigeria, facing one focus.”