The candidate for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 presidential election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has described President Bola Tinubu as a political maverick but a failure in governance.
Adebayo noted that while Tinubu might score an A1 in politics, he would earn an F9 in governance.
The former presidential candidate further indicated that the president has not managed to convert his political skills into effective governance that produces significant legacies.
In a statement issued by his media team, Adebayo stated, “This poses a considerable problem because an A1 in politics simply shows that he has a deep understanding of the political elite; he knows their motivations and how to interact with them.
“He sometimes dismisses, retires, and re-engages them because he understands their desires. However, I wish he had a better grasp of what the Nigerian people want, which includes essential services, economic stability, and security. If he cannot ensure safety in Benue, Plateau, and other areas of the country, then he has indeed failed,” he expressed.
The SDP leader emphasized that President Tinubu must realize that politics ended the moment he assumed office, which required him to provide essential governance and effectively manage Nigeria’s diversity.
Along with having the administrative skills necessary to govern the Nigerian populace, he also argued that the president lacks a solid grasp of how to handle the nation’s finances.
He stated that the president’s only skill in economic management is economizing the truth, which translates to “what they do rather than effectively managing the economy.”
He added, “Our purpose in the SDP is to turn the focus of politics exclusively to the welfare of the people. There will be less debate if we solve the pressing challenges of food, health, housing, education, and others.
Adebayo strongly criticized politicians who are leaving opposition parties to join the ruling APC, calling them mere tools of the government meant to weaken the opposition’s spirit before the 2027 elections.
He highlighted that many of these people did not choose to support the opposition, stressing that those who did would never switch to the ruling party unless there were significant improvements in place.
He stated: “The so-called defections usually come from people who claim to be in opposition, but have been pushed into that role, not by their own choice. When someone intentionally chooses to be in opposition, they have the chance to work with the ruling party but decide against it, and their reasons are clear, focusing on the needs of the Nigerian people.
“There is no real chance of defection unless those fundamental disagreements or issues have been addressed.
“Everyone in Nigeria will see that poverty has been eliminated, that insecurity is no longer an issue, and that the corruption and poor ethics that have dominated our politics have been changed. Subsequently, those who are unable to join the ruling party will remain in the opposition until the next opportunity arises, at which point they will join. This is nothing new.
“Many of the defectors are being prepared and kept on standby for the dramatic comeback planned by the ruling party. They are simply being held in reserve so that when the time is right, they can be used to demoralize the opposition,” he said.
