President Bola Tinubu has acknowledged the personal strain of his economic reforms, saying the policies have affected him physically and emotionally just as they have millions of Nigerians.
Speaking in Abuja after winning the All Progressives Congress presidential primary on Saturday, Tinubu said the pressure of steering Nigeria’s economic transition since taking office in May 2023 has led him to lose sleep and weight.
“If you lost sleep, I’ve lost some too,” he told delegates, drawing parallels between his experience and the hardship faced by citizens amid rising living costs.
Tinubu secured a commanding victory with 10,999,162 votes, while his only challenger, Stanley Osifo, polled 16,503 votes in a nationwide direct primary held across all 774 local government areas and 8,809 wards.
The president described his decision to pursue office as a deliberate commitment, insisting that implementing his reform agenda was a responsibility he could not abandon despite public criticism.
His remarks come amid ongoing national debate over key economic policies, including fuel subsidy removal and naira liberalisation, which have contributed to increased cost of living across Nigeria.
With the primary win, Tinubu is now effectively positioned as the APC’s flagbearer for the 2027 general election, setting the stage for a highly competitive political contest.
