The 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration, labeling it a failure in addressing Nigeria’s security and socioeconomic challenges.
Speaking to journalists in Ilorin during an Iftar gathering with loyalists, Adebayo lamented the deteriorating state of the nation, citing rising poverty, insecurity, unemployment, and infrastructural decay. He expressed disappointment in Tinubu’s leadership, which he said many Nigerians initially saw as a beacon of renewed hope.
Adebayo did not mince words in his assessment of the government’s performance. “Tinubu is the current champion of disgrace,” he stated. “It is a disgrace that in a land of plenty, the government cannot feed the poor. Roads are being constructed, yet citizens endure unbearable travel conditions.”
He further criticized the government’s failure to provide basic amenities, emphasizing the growing frustration among Nigerians. “Poverty, insecurity, underdevelopment, and unemployment are the realities we face daily,” he said. “In the next five years, our population will grow by at least 10%, yet there are no jobs, no food, no education, no housing, and no space in the public service.”
Addressing the ongoing crisis in Rivers State, Adebayo condemned the alleged unconstitutional removal of elected officials. “The president has essentially deleted the democratic structure in Rivers State without considering the impact on the people,” he said.
He urged the country’s leadership to rethink the emergency rule in the state, stressing that power belongs to the people. “A state of emergency that lasts six months can be resolved in six hours if there is political will,” he argued.
Adebayo also took a swipe at the National Assembly, accusing it of failing Nigerians. He questioned how lawmakers approved a ₦55 trillion budget with little impact on citizens, recalling that even the Speaker admitted last year’s budget performed below 25%.
“If a student scores below 25%, would you promote them? Why then are we continuing with budgets that fail the people?” he queried. He also criticized the media for focusing on political drama rather than issues affecting Nigerians.
On the growing interest in SDP as a political platform, Adebayo emphasized the party’s mission to wrest power from the elite and restore true governance. “SDP is one of Nigeria’s oldest parties, the party of MKO Abiola, Solomon Lar, and Abubakar Rimi. The same people who created APC today were once in SDP,” he noted.
He assured Nigerians that while political elites may be defecting to the party, the real focus is on ordinary citizens joining in the fight for a better Nigeria.
Explaining why he hosted the Iftar in Ilorin, Adebayo highlighted the city’s significance in Islamic scholarship. “Ilorin is a center of Islamic knowledge known globally. Even in North Africa and the Middle East, scholars refer to Ilorin for complex interpretations of Arabic and Islamic traditions,” he stated.
The SDP candidate concluded by reiterating his call for serious governance, urging leaders to prioritize the welfare of Nigerians over political ambitions.
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