The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, has made allegations against President Bola Tinubu, suggesting that his interest in occupying the presidency is driven by financial gain rather than a desire to serve Nigerians. Adebayo made these statements in Ibadan while presenting his presidential blueprint, Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity. He urged Nigerians to take greater responsibility for the quality of leadership they choose.
According to Adebayo, Tinubu has shown little interest in the demands of the presidency, including supervising ministers, interacting with citizens, and ensuring access to basic services. Adebayo claimed that Tinubu's earlier political strategy involved sponsoring individuals for political offices and benefiting from the proceeds of their positions. He alleged that Tinubu later opted to seek the presidency after determining that sponsoring other politicians was not generating enough financial returns.
Adebayo also warned about the possible consequences of allowing the current administration to continue for another period. He predicted that petrol could rise to N5,000 per litre and argued that worsening inflation could leave Nigerians with large amounts of money that would no longer purchase basic necessities. Adebayo stated that Nigerians would become "millionaires in poverty" as a result.
Beyond his criticism of the administration, Adebayo placed part of the responsibility for Nigeria's governance problems on citizens themselves. He questioned why Nigerians repeatedly elect leaders whom they accuse of corruption, saying voters should examine their own contribution to the political process. Adebayo emphasized that citizens should not compromise their values for political or financial benefits.
Adebayo described Nigeria's 66 years of independence as an unfulfilled promise for citizens who remain without adequate food, healthcare, employment, and housing. He argued that political independence was meaningless for Nigerians whose living conditions had not improved sufficiently. Adebayo stated that his blueprint was not intended to provide another catalogue of Nigeria's problems but to encourage citizens to participate actively in changing the country.
Adebayo called for grassroots mobilisation and urged Nigerians to reject practices that sustain what they consider poor governance, including political patronage, misuse of public resources, and misinformation. He argued that government should guarantee free and compulsory quality education, affordable healthcare, housing, food, and employment opportunities. Adebayo used his experience as a farmer to illustrate his argument on healthcare.
Adebayo questioned why livestock owners could spend money treating animals while Nigerians struggle to access healthcare. He asked, "When my cow is sick, I use my money to treat the cow. The cow doesn’t pay for it. How can I value my cow more than the government values you?" Adebayo emphasized that citizens deserve better from their government.
Key points
- Adebayo alleges Tinubu's presidency driven by financial gain, not service to Nigerians.
- Adebayo warns of worsening economic conditions if current administration continues.
- Adebayo calls for grassroots mobilisation to change Nigeria's governance.
