President Bola Tinubu on Thursday declared that he would not be intimidated by critics or political pressure, as he rallied members of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors at the State House, Abuja.

Addressing the group, Tinubu struck a defiant tone, insisting that no amount of opposition would derail his administration’s resolve to reform the economy and reposition the country.

“They want to scare me off? That is a lie. I have been through this path before, and if I have to go through it again, I will,” the President said, drawing applause from supporters.

He said his government remains committed to breaking “the shackles of poverty and ignorance,” while deepening democratic values and expanding opportunities for Nigerians.

Tinubu also used the occasion to emphasise respect for the rule of law, warning against disregard for judicial authority.

“We cannot submit to the disobedience of lawful court orders. We must embrace the judiciary, whether it favours us or not. That is the principle of democracy and separation of powers,” he said.

The President urged his supporters to champion unity and national cohesion, stressing that Nigeria’s progress depends on a shared vision.

“There is no other path to national greatness than building one country with a common vision for progress and prosperity,” he added.

On the state of the economy, Tinubu acknowledged existing challenges but maintained that his administration is focused on correcting inherited structural issues.

“If something is wrong, we fix it and move on,” he said, noting that governance requires continuity and responsibility.

He admitted that the reform journey would be difficult but assured his audience that the sacrifices would yield results.

“The voyage is not easy, but I assure you, you will not regret walking this path with me. I will not run away from this fight,” he said.

Charging the Renewed Hope Ambassadors to intensify grassroots engagement, Tinubu described them as “the conscience of a nation determined to overcome poverty, ignorance and hopelessness.”

He reaffirmed his commitment to delivering on campaign promises, saying: “I will not give up. What we promised Nigerians, we will deliver.”

Earlier, Governor Hope Uzodinma, Director-General and National Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, said the movement had been reinvigorated by the President’s endorsement, describing members as “envoys” tasked with driving the reform message across communities.

He called for what he termed “political evangelism,” urging ambassadors to engage markets, youth groups and faith-based organisations to explain government policies and their long-term benefits.

“The success of his policies is our success. We must communicate these reforms in a unified and disciplined manner to every Nigerian,” he said.

Also speaking, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, commended Tinubu’s leadership, pointing to ongoing infrastructure, energy and industrial projects as signs of a clear pathway to economic transformation.

He pledged continued party support, stressing the need for synergy between the APC and the Renewed Hope Ambassadors.

“As a party, we will stand by you and support policies that deliver good governance for Nigerians,” he said.

Governor Uba Sani, Deputy Director-General of the movement, underscored the urgency of improving public communication of government achievements, warning that gaps in messaging were being exploited by the opposition.

“If we don’t tell our story, we should not blame the opposition when they tell it wrongly,” he said, citing improved security and the return of farmers to previously unsafe areas in Kaduna as examples of progress that require amplification.

On his part, Governor Inuwa Yahaya, Secretary of the movement, called for tighter coordination between state governments and the ambassadors, describing governors as “foot soldiers” of the President’s agenda.

“What remains is action, action and action. We have no time for excuses,” he said.

Other speakers at the meeting included Governor Abiodun Oyebanji; former governors Tanko Al-Makura, Ifeanyi Okowa and Aminu Masari; as well as former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim.

Participants, drawn from across the country, serve as members of the national leadership, zonal coordinators and state coordinators of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, a platform designed to deepen political engagement and support for the administration’s reform agenda.