Adebayo criticizes Tinubu for lack of solutions to poverty

The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, has accused President Bola Tinubu of not tackling poverty and insecurity. He believes Tinubu's administration lacks new ideas to improve the lives of Nigerians as the 2027 election approaches.

Mr Adebayo stated that the president must explain how he has handled the economic challenges he inherited. He also wants to know what actions his government has taken and what plans are in place if he seeks re-election.

He made these comments on Monday during his appearance on Morning Show, a program on Arise News.

Mr Adebayo criticized the government's 90-day plan to solve economic issues. He said it showed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) government cares more about politics than good governance.

“The president is our leader in the country, and we need to give him some respect, despite our political differences,” Mr Adebayo said. “But increasingly, it is clear that the president doesn’t live in Nigeria to know the problems of the people.”

He argued that since taking office on 29 May 2023, Mr Tinubu has overseen a rise in poverty. He believes the president should be responsible for the results of his policies.

“Whether the poverty is inherited, imported, or falls from the sky, he has been presiding over that poverty in the last three and a half years, and he has not found a single solution to any of the indices of poverty,” he said.

Mr Adebayo also pointed out that the president cannot keep blaming past governments forever. He mentioned that none of his main opposition candidates has ever been president.

He used former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as an example. He said the economic situation during Atiku’s time was very different from what Nigerians face today.

The SDP candidate believes that a presidential campaign should focus on the current leader’s record, the results of policies, and clear plans for the future. He said it should not be about political alliances or previous leaders.

“A campaign for the presidency for someone who is an incumbent has only three parts. You would account for the problems you met on the ground. Two, you would account for the efforts you have made to improve the situation. Three, you will account for what you want to do next,” he stated.

“It is the solidity of your plan, not the number of poor bearers standing by your left or right, that makes a presidential campaign.”

Mr Adebayo questioned the timing and effectiveness of the government’s 90-day plan. He said issues like high prices and low purchasing power need ongoing policy actions, not just short-term fixes.

He noted that policies meant to affect prices, boost household incomes, and lower living costs require careful fiscal and monetary measures that cannot be completed in three months.

“90 days is a short-term plan, and the content of their programme, what they say they want to do, are things that are medium-term and long-term,” he said.

He accused the APC of using the plan to create the illusion that the government is addressing public concerns, while relying on temporary solutions.

“In the medical laboratory of the APC, every problem in Nigeria, insecurity, bad roads, poor education, no healthcare, can be cured by a bag of rice,” he said.

Mr Adebayo argued that the government should focus on long-term reforms to boost food production, create jobs, and bring down the cost of essential services instead of temporary reliefs.

He also criticized the president’s economic policies, claiming the government has yet to show how it plans to relieve the hardships facing households.

Mr Adebayo said his party has created a program to address poverty and insecurity through agriculture, jobs, affordable education, mass housing, and lower energy costs.

He explained that the party’s plans would increase agricultural output, improve security, and create jobs in productive sectors of the economy.

“We are not here to manage the status quo. We are here to change the paradigm,” he said.

Mr Adebayo said an SDP government would also aim to improve local energy security by ensuring that crude oil meant for local use is available to meet the country’s needs.

He raised concerns about how crude oil set aside for domestic use has been managed, pointing out that Nigeria is supposed to allocate 445,000 barrels per day. He demanded more accountability from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the federal government regarding local crude supply.

He argued that the government's failure to guarantee enough domestic crude supply, even though Nigeria is an oil-producing country, raises questions about how the sector is managed.

Mr Adebayo said the SDP’s economic program is based on implementing Chapter II of the Nigerian Constitution. This outlines the state’s duty to promote the welfare and security of citizens.

He insisted that the party would focus on access to food, education, healthcare, and housing, along with efforts to create jobs and improve household purchasing power.

The SDP candidate emphasized that the 2027 election should be based on competing policies and clear plans to enhance citizens’ lives, rather than political endorsements and flashy campaigns.