Prince Adewole Ebenezer Adebayo, the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the last general election, has delivered a scathing critique of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. In an exclusive interview, Adebayo accused the government of leading by example in the wrong direction, citing the ostentatious lifestyles of government officials while urging ordinary Nigerians to tighten their belts.
Adebayo highlighted the disconnect between the government’s actions and the needs of the people, asserting that the administration has failed to meet the constitutional mandate of ensuring the welfare and security of the populace. He emphasized that the APC’s policies, from the era of former President Muhammadu Buhari to the present, have only compounded the country’s economic and social problems.
“The APC government, particularly under President Tinubu, has worsened matters in many areas. They might mean well, but the results are not showing,” Adebayo stated.
In his critique, Adebayo addressed the issue of continuity between the Buhari and Tinubu administrations, rejecting claims by Tinubu’s allies that the current administration should not be held accountable for the problems inherited from Buhari. He argued that Tinubu, who was influential in the previous government, explicitly stated his intention to continue from where Buhari left off.
Adebayo accused the Tinubu administration of “tightening the belt around the necks of Nigerians” by increasing the cost of essential goods and services while engaging in discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as the recent controversial purchase of a new presidential aircraft.
“These are not discretionary items for ordinary Nigerians,” Adebayo argued. “People cannot be told to sacrifice basic needs while the government spends on luxuries.”
The SDP leader also lamented the pervasive insecurity in the country, using the recent kidnapping and murder of the Emir of Gobir, Mohammed Bawa, as a grim example. He criticized the government’s lack of action in the face of such tragedies, questioning whether the administration is governing effectively.
When asked whether the problem lies in the policies themselves or the way they are implemented, Adebayo responded that it is both. He described the administration’s approach as “wrong-headed” and “cavalier,” noting that the government is failing to behave like a functional government.
Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, Adebayo expressed little faith in the current administration’s ability to secure a second term. He suggested that Tinubu’s government might already be unseating itself through its unpopular policies and actions.
“My priority now is to ensure that Nigerians don’t suffer,” Adebayo concluded. “I don’t want them to fail, but it seems they are not planning to come back.”
As Nigerians continue to grapple with economic hardship and insecurity, Adebayo’s words resonate with growing public frustration, raising questions about the future direction of the country’s leadership.
For more exclusive interviews and in-depth analysis, stay tuned to Naijahotvibez blog.
