SDP presidential candidate knocks FG over rising hardship

The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party for the 2027 general election, Adewole Adebayo, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of worsening economic hardship in the country, saying Nigerians are struggling with rising living costs, unemployment and insecurity.

In a statement he issued on Friday as the Tinubu administration marked its third anniversary in office, Adebayo said many Nigerians were finding it increasingly difficult to afford food, healthcare and education.

“Many are working very hard, but the economy of the government of the day makes them look lazy because when they go home, the children will ask the question: why is there no food? Why was I sent out of school with no school fees paid?” he said.

The SDP flag bearer said recent economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy, had placed additional burdens on citizens.

“Those of us who came to our convention on June 8, 2022, the money with which you came to the convention, you needed 15 times that amount to pay transport now,” he said.

Adebayo also expressed concern over the state of democracy in the country, warning against what he described as threats to political diversity and opposition politics.

“People have told me that Nigeria is in danger of one-party rule. I said, ‘don’t worry about that.’ The real problem is that we are in danger of one-man rule,” he stated.

He stressed the need for stronger democratic institutions and active opposition parties, noting that Nigerians deserved political choices that reflected different ideologies and interests.

“Nigerians need diversity. We need different political parties who believe in different things, but who are loyal to the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.

Adebayo further outlined the SDP’s preparations for the 2027 elections, saying the party would field candidates for governorship, senatorial and House of Representatives positions across the country.

“We will contest 109 senatorial seats with patriotic Nigerians. We will run for 360 seats in the House of Representatives and all the governorship positions,” he said.

He promised accountable governance and urged Nigerians to unite across political, ethnic and religious lines in support of good leadership and national development.

“Anyone who opposes corruption, insecurity, cheating, division and injustice is the real opposition,” he added.

Also in a statement, Afenifere chieftain, Oba Oladipo Oladotun, expressed concern over insecurity and economic hardship, saying many Nigerians could no longer “sleep with both eyes closed” because of the unrelenting wave of insecurity.

“Our youths roam the streets without jobs, and our farmers and traders struggle daily just to survive,” he said.

Oladotun called for the protection of Nigeria’s multiparty democracy and urged opposition groups to work together in defence of democratic values and citizens’ welfare.

“This suffering of many is not an act of God. Nigeria urgently needs a change of government — a fundamental shift from policies that favour the few to programmes that serve the many,” he said.

He also advocated policies focused on job creation, agriculture, affordable education, healthcare, housing and infrastructure development.