What I told U.S, European partners — Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has disclosed that he assured the United States and European partners that his administration is committed to implementing state police as part of efforts to strengthen security across Nigeria.

The president made this known on Thursday during the 14th National Caucus meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.

Tinubu said he held extensive discussions with U.S. and European partners, during which he expressed confidence in the state police initiative, noting that he has the backing of his party to carry out the reform.

“They asked me if I’m confident, and I said yes. I have a party to depend on,” the president said.

He stressed that political reconciliation and internal party unity are collective responsibilities, urging leaders at all levels to embrace flexibility and tolerance in the interest of stability and progress.

Referring to the recent Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy, Tinubu called on APC leaders to support its full implementation, describing it as critical to strengthening grassroots governance. He insisted that autonomy would be ineffective without proper funding.

“There is no autonomy without a funded mandate. Give them their money directly. That is compliance with the Supreme Court,” he said.

The president further urged party leaders to take governance at the local level seriously, noting that strong local institutions would help stabilise communities nationwide. He also appealed for increased inclusion of women in party leadership and political participation.

Earlier, Vice-President Kashim Shettima emphasised the need for discipline, cohesion and effective internal democracy to sustain the APC’s growing influence nationwide.

Shettima highlighted the party’s expanding dominance across the six geopolitical zones, attributing its strength to recent defections and growing grassroots support. He cautioned against complacency, warning that maintaining success requires greater effort than achieving it.

Drawing comparisons, the vice-president said, “Rome was not destroyed by outside invaders but by the complacency of the Romans,” urging party members to remain vigilant and united.

He also reassured governors and politicians who recently joined the APC that they had found a permanent home in the ruling party, expressing confidence that the APC would remain politically dominant beyond 2027.