Tinubu Supporters Won’t Be Intimidated by Opposition Attacks – APC Youth Leader

The National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Dayo Israel, has warned opposition groups against what he described as a growing campaign of intimidation and harassment targeting supporters of President Bola Tinubu.

Israel said political disagreements should not degenerate into threats, physical attacks and attempts to silence Nigerians who openly identify with the President and his administration.

In a statement, the APC chieftain accused some opposition elements, particularly members of the Obidient Movement, of targeting Tinubu’s supporters, including entertainers, comedians, creative professionals and public officials.

He alleged that many Nigerians in the creative industry had become afraid to publicly associate with the President because of possible attacks and online harassment.

Israel cited the confrontation involving the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, in London on Thursday, November 12, where protesters reportedly surrounded his vehicle after a Chatham House engagement.

He condemned the incident, describing it as an attempt to intimidate an independent electoral institution ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The APC youth leader also referred to the reported attack on security operatives attached to Tinubu’s convoy after the President attended Jumat prayers at the Shehu Shagari Central Mosque, Area 1, Garki, Abuja, on Friday.

He alleged that opposition elements sponsored thugs to disrupt the President’s movement and create an impression of widespread rejection.

“Any further attack on the person or the convoy of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will not be condoned,” he declared.

Israel also defended the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, against what he described as sustained attacks, highlighting her empowerment programmes through the Renewed Hope Initiative.

According to him, the initiative has mobilised and deployed more than N100 billion in three years to support women entrepreneurs, widows of fallen security personnel, schoolgirls, disaster victims and vulnerable families across the country.
He maintained that attacking the First Lady amounted to undermining the people benefiting from her interventions.
On the economy, Israel described Tinubu as a reformer whose policies were laying the foundation for long-term economic stability, despite the difficulties Nigerians had experienced since the introduction of the reforms.

He cited improved foreign exchange liquidity and increased international spending limits on naira-denominated bank cards as evidence of what he described as emerging gains from the administration’s economic policies.

The APC youth leader insisted that Nigerians who voted for Tinubu in 2023 retained their constitutional right to support him again in 2027 without fear of intimidation.

He said democracy must accommodate divergent political opinions, stressing that supporters of the President had the same rights as those backing opposition parties.

“Democracy is not the exclusive preserve of those who hate the President. Supporters of Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not be intimidated,” he said.

Israel urged opposition groups to embrace peaceful political engagement rather than resort to threats and harassment, insisting that every Nigerian had the constitutional right to associate with, defend and vote for any candidate of their choice.

“To the architects of this targeted hate: you will not succeed. The supporters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not be cowed,” he declared.

He added that APC supporters would continue to defend the administration’s reforms and the President’s democratic mandate, warning against further attacks on the President, the First Lady, their convoy and supporters.