Former presidential candidate and Social Democratic Party (SDP) leader, Adewole Adebayo, has delivered a scathing assessment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's performance in the year 2025. He characterized the period as one defined by "abuse of power, constitutional violations, and deepening hardship for Nigerians."
Constitutional Violations and Economic Disconnect
Adebayo made these remarks during an interview at the second edition of the Adebayo National Marathon in Ondo State on January 1, 2026. He argued that governance standards and public accountability sharply declined in 2025.
He accused the administration of "general unseriousness," specifically highlighting repeated breaches of the Appropriation Act. "You cannot be violating three appropriation acts at the same time and pretend that governance is normal," Adebayo stated. He pointed to attempts to repeal an existing budget before its term ended as a fundamental constitutional issue.
Dismissing government claims of improving economic indicators like inflation, Adebayo insisted official statistics fail to reflect the harsh realities faced by citizens. "There is no part of Nigeria where transportation costs have reduced. There is no part where rent has come down. Cement, building materials, airfare, school fees — nothing is cheaper," he asserted. He revealed that many Nigerians are forced to borrow money for basic expenses like rent and school fees, contradicting narratives of economic recovery.
Critique of Key Policies: Student Loans and Security
Adebayo also took aim at specific government policies. He described the Federal Government's Students' Loan scheme as unconstitutional and dangerous. "In Nigeria, education is supposed to be affordable under the constitution. No young person should be forced to take a loan to go to school," he argued. He warned that the policy would economically enslave the youth by burdening them with debt, exacerbating unemployment and poverty instead of providing empowerment.
On the front of national security, the SDP leader contended that Nigeria's international standing has worsened. "Nigeria has become a country that can be openly criticised and harassed internationally," he said, contrasting this with past eras where foreign criticism met strong domestic rebuttal. He faulted the government for lacking clear leadership in tackling insecurity, maintaining that Nigeria has the capacity to secure itself without appearing dependent or disorganised.
The Rise of a "One-Party Elite" and Hope in the People
Addressing concerns about Nigeria drifting into a one-party state, Adebayo offered a nuanced perspective. He suggested that the political elite across party lines have merged into a single interest group obsessed with power and self-preservation. "What people call a one-party state is really a one-party elite," he noted, referencing the defection of governors and politicians into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Despite this consolidation of power among the political class, Adewole Adebayo expressed confidence that such a setup is unsustainable. He believes the real challenge to the status quo will not emerge from rival politicians but from the citizens themselves. "The real opposition will not come from the political class. It will come from the Nigerian people," he concluded.
