Tinubu not controlled by anyone — his decisions are his own, says Mohammed Idris

Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, says President Bola Tinubu is not controlled by any cabal or shadowy inner circle.

Idris said the president welcomes a wide range of perspectives but makes bold and informed decisions solely in the interest of Nigeria.

He spoke on Thursday in Abuja at the All Progressives Congress (APC) national summit themed “Renewed hope agenda: The journey so far”.

“You need to study the president very well. You can have your voice; you can say what you want to say; he will listen to you, but his decision is ultimately his own. I think it’s important for us to recognise that,” the minister said.

Speaking on the theme of the summit, Idris said the renewed hope agenda is a bold, people-first blueprint that is turning obstacles into opportunities.

“The renewed hope agenda is about positively impacting the lives of the people of Nigeria through bold decisions designed to unleash the full scale of Nigerian potential in a way that has never been seen or done before,” he said.

He said Tinubu inherited a nation at a crossroads and responded with clarity and courage.

“Among the first decisions the president made were the removal of petrol and foreign exchange subsidies, which have been among the biggest impediments to Nigeria’s progress, costing us billions of dollars in losses and waste annually,” he said.

Idris said the results of Tinubu’s reforms are now evident across all sectors – from infrastructure and social investment to mining and energy.

He said the federal government is laying 90,000km of fibre optic cable nationwide, describing it as an unprecedented scale of broadband rollout.

The minister added that the renewed hope agenda is holistic and focused on real people.

He also spoke about the new Nigeria first policy, which mandates federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to prioritise local goods, services, and know-how when spending public funds.

“This is historically unprecedented, with the ultimate objective being to accelerate industrialisation through local production and to insulate the Nigerian economy from global disruptions,” he said.

Earlier, the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) formally endorsed Tinubu as the sole candidate of the APC for the 2027 presidential election.

Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo state and chairman of the forum, announced the decision on Thursday at the summit.

Speaking at the summit, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said Tinubu should be the sole presidential candidate not just for the APC but for the entire country in 2027.

Akpabio praised Tinubu’s “political sagacity” and said the president has placed the country on a path of economic growth.