Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in the 2023 general election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, faulted President Bola Tinubu’s handling of national security, governance, and democracy, warning that Nigeria has become increasingly vulnerable.
Adebayo said insecurity has defined Nigeria’s recent history, with bandits and terrorists overrunning communities, killing and kidnapping residents, and looting property.
He argued that security demands realism and data-driven planning, not optimism, accusing successive administrations — including Tinubu’s — of failing to act decisively.
According to Adebayo, President Tinubu has not demonstrated a clear understanding of his constitutional role as Commander-in-Chief, saying the president has failed to properly supervise the armed forces or articulate a coherent national security plan.
He dismissed claims that Tinubu merely inherited the crisis, noting that the president campaigned on fixing insecurity but has not delivered meaningful results.
Adebayo also criticised Nigeria’s growing security engagement with the United States, describing it as a reaction to domestic failure rather than a diplomatic success.
He warned that Tinubu’s handling of insecurity had exposed Nigeria to foreign pressure, insisting that international cooperation should be limited, proactive, and firmly driven by Nigeria’s own priorities.
Blaming corruption and collusion within government and security institutions for sustaining insecurity, he alleged that some officials are profiting from prolonged conflict.
Adebayo further warned against any foreign troop presence on Nigerian soil and condemned poor governance as the greatest threat to democracy, even as he rejected coups and unconstitutional seizures of power.
Looking ahead, Adebayo expressed confidence that the SDP could emerge victorious in a “people’s election,” calling for the rise of a new political class to replace what he described as an entrenched elite feeding off public resources.
