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The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Ajibola Basiru, has rejected recent criticisms from opposition figures, claiming they are “whining due to the loss of chance to exploit the resources of Nigerian citizens” instead of true worry about the people’s well-being.

Basiru spoke on Friday following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja, just hours after Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri officially left the Peoples Democratic Party to join the APC.

The official from APC addressed a press briefing that took place earlier in the week, featuring opposition leaders such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, who expressed concerns that Nigeria is transforming into a single-party system under Tinubu’s leadership.

Why I was laughing is because they weren’t weeping for regular Nigerian citizens.

They were not weeping over the progress of our people.

“They were weeping due to the loss of their privileges, the loss of chances to keep exploiting the resources of the Nigerian population,” Basiru said.

He acknowledged Tinubu for preventing “all the leaks through which certain individuals are draining Nigeria,” using the increase in foreign reserves from $3 billion to $49 billion as proof.

The increase in our foreign reserves from approximately $3 billion to $49 billion did not happen suddenly.

It’s not sorcery. It’s because all those sources of corruption have truly been stopped.

“The subsidy, including those who profited from the petroleum subsidy, were among them, which is why they were complaining,” said the national secretary.

Basiru contended that Nigerians are “happy because our nation is experiencing economic improvement,” asserting that the naira is “doing better than perhaps any other currency globally” and that food inflation has dropped from roughly 35 percent to around 15 percent.

The official from the APC also rejected the opposition’s comments on the Electoral Act 2026, referring to the critics as “a group of carnival performers.”

When a law is enacted by the correct legislative authority, there are several individuals who do not have a single elected representative advocating for the repeal of that law.

“I believe it’s more about speaking from a place of ignorance and lacking credibility with the Nigerian people,” he said.

He invited opposition leaders to “return to the frontlines, go back to the Nigerian populace, and promote whatever credibility they may still possess to achieve electoral legitimacy.”

Following Fintiri’s switch, the APC now holds 30 out of Nigeria’s 36 states, leaving the PDP with three states, while the Labour Party, Accord Party, and All Progressives Grand Alliance each control one state.

Basiru said, “The aim of our leader, President Bola Tinubu, is to establish a nationwide Nigerian political party.”

We are facing a scenario where, across the various geopolitical regions in Nigeria, we maintain a significant presence.

By bringing Governor Fintiri into the APC today, I believe there’s only one state in the entire North-East that remains outside the APC’s influence.

He characterized the progress as “evidence of the political acceptability of the APC and, naturally, the political wisdom of the President.”

The opposition alliance, comprising the PDP, Labour Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party, and various civil society organizations, has expressed concern about what they term as the deliberate erosion of opposition parties via defections, reportedly facilitated by federal influence.

During their press conference earlier in the week, Atiku and Obi, together with other opposition leaders, alleged that the Tinubu government had “militarized” state agencies to target political rivals and foster a climate where opposition members feel compelled to switch sides to escape political repression.

They explicitly condemned the Electoral Act 2026, asserting that it allows opportunities for electoral interference by making the real-time reporting of outcomes optional and requiring direct primaries, which smaller parties state they cannot afford.

The opposition leaders also expressed concern about the alleged use of security agencies to harass opposition figures and the manipulation of court processes to favour the ruling party.

Nevertheless, the Presidency has rejected these claims, with presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga labeling opposition concerns as “careless, baseless” and intended to deceive the public.

Basiru also verified that the APC conducted effective ward and local government meetings and is getting ready for state congresses set for Tuesday.

He said, “I simply provided a summary of the current situation within the party, especially concerning the achievements at the ward and local government conventions, as well as the preparations for the upcoming state conventions next week.”

Although faced with criticism that its power undermines multi-party democracy in Nigeria, the APC argues that defections indicate real discontent with the performance of opposition parties and the appeal of its policies and leadership under President Tinubu.

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.Syndigate.info).