Marcel Ngogbehei, director‑general of the Tinubu Must Stay (TMS) movement, told reporters in Abuja on Tuesday that [President Bola Tinubu](https://www.president.gov.ng/) ’s personal campaigning across all 36 states ahead of the 2027 general elections would divert attention from core governance duties, and he invited critics of the recent petrol‑subsidy removal to a public debate on viable alternatives.
**Why could a nationwide campaign undermine governance?**
Ngogbehei explained that the “time to govern and the time to electioneering” are increasingly overlapping. He noted that political actors often begin election preparations just a year into a term, causing a shift in focus away from delivering on mandates. “A president gets into office, and one year after he gets into office, they start preparing for the next election. And what suffers? Governance suffers,” he said.
**What is the President’s strategy?**
According to Ngogbehei, Tinubu has opted to delegate campaign duties to trusted allies, allowing him to concentrate on governance. He quoted the President: “I want to focus on governance. I want to keep an eye on the key things that I am doing. Let the people I have worked with go out there and do the work.” Ngogbehei added that the President will intervene personally only when absolutely necessary, describing the approach as “pure delegation.”
**How does leadership style factor in?**
The movement’s director‑general stressed that effective leadership hinges on strong institutions and capable teams rather than the constant physical presence of a single leader. “Every good leader must not always be there. If you are a leader that has built resources, that built people, you should trust your people to do the job,” he asserted. He warned against a system where “strong personalities and weak institutions” dominate, emphasizing the need to build resilient structures for Nigeria.
**What about the petrol‑subsidy removal?**
Ngogbehei challenged opponents of the policy to a transparent discussion, urging them to demonstrate an understanding of the underlying problems and propose alternative solutions that consider Nigeria’s economic realities. He said, “We are open to have this discussion with anyone, anytime, any day. Let us just be open, let us be transparent, let us be factual. It is our country. We cannot run it by propaganda. We cannot run it by lies.”
**What are the fiscal concerns?**
National Coordinator Engr. Ibrahim Said Uba warned that continued borrowing to sustain the subsidy regime could deepen fiscal strain, potentially jeopardising salary payments and other obligations. He described the subsidy removal as a “bold and courageous move” that, while causing short‑term hardship, may prevent heavier burdens on future generations. “Is it going to happen in our generation, or does it happen in our children’s generation when it would have been worse?” he asked.
**What does the movement seek?**
Uba called for a balanced, honest, and factual assessment of the Tinubu administration’s inherited economic situation, the policies introduced, and their long‑term implications. “The Tinubu Must Stay movement is saying, come, let us have a sincere, honest, transparent, and factual analysis of what he met, what he has done, the short‑term impact, and what the possible long‑term implications are for the country,” he concluded.
[Petrol subsidy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subsidy_(economics)#Petroleum_subsidies) removal remains a contentious issue, and the TMS movement’s invitation aims to foster a data‑driven dialogue that could shape Nigeria’s fiscal trajectory.