The Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has blamed the current surge in insecurity in Nigeria on what he terms the “absent-mindedness of Tinubu government,” which he described as having become rudderless.
Current State of Nigeria
Adebayo characterized the current state of Nigeria as “orderless from the point of view of governance,” with the primary duties of the various tiers of government neglected and the people’s difficult situation remaining unchanged. He believes the government has “lost its map” and is merely reacting daily to new incidents or international criticism.
He claimed that President Tinubu has “lost control of his own government” and is not where he planned to be, suggesting the administration is “in the wilderness.” He argued that having a “bad government in a good country” is a more accurate description of Nigeria’s reality.
Simplistic View of Governance
When asked if his criticism makes governance too simplistic, Adebayo insisted that the first enemy of the people is the government, noting that crimes cannot persist without the cooperation of government personnel. He used the example of vast ransom payments, questioning why those collecting the money are not tracked when regular citizens face intense scrutiny for large cash deposits. He concluded that President Tinubu has “lost control of his government and is flailing around” and must organize his administration and properly utilize the police force, which is present in every local government.
Opposition’s Role
Responding to accusations that the opposition is using the country’s misfortune for political gain, Adebayo asserted that the government is “producing too many misfortunes” and should reduce them if they do not want the opposition to comment. He highlighted failures in security, economy, culture, and sports, noting that unemployment, inflation, security, and the country’s international profile have all worsened. He stated that the entire North is dangerously unstable and that the government is “Afghanstanising” its own country.
Donald Trump’s Description
Adebayo disagreed with U.S. President Donald Trump’s description of Nigeria as a “disgraced country.” However, he interpreted Trump’s comment as speaking the language of international diplomacy, meaning the Tinubu administration is a “disgraced government.”
Foreign Interests and Insecurity
Regarding the suggestion by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation that the attacks might be linked to foreign interests, particularly from America, Adebayo dismissed it as an “admission of failure.” He likened it to a goalkeeper complaining that the opponent is shooting too fast, stating that the government’s job is to stop the attacks, regardless of the source. He stressed that Nigeria possesses enough resources, manpower, and international partnerships to defend itself.
He maintained that the only explanation that makes sense for Nigeria’s struggle with insecurity is having a “failed government,” arguing that the challenges faced are minor compared to those of countries like Ukraine. He concluded that leaders who cannot secure the country, despite having the necessary resources, should resign.
U.S. Security Cooperation
Commenting on the Presidency’s announcement that the U.S. is ready to deepen security cooperation and share intelligence, Adebayo said there is “nothing to be happy about yet.” He argued that the U.S. has always been willing to cooperate (citing the Super Tucano sale under Buhari/Trump) but that the Nigerian government, until forced by international fire, “did not take this matter seriously,” having gotten comfortable with the “commercial aspect of insecurity.”
He criticized the government’s initial failure to appoint ambassadors to key countries and described the current efforts, such as sending the National Security Adviser, as merely reactive steps that should have been taken long ago.
Opposition’s Efforts to Calm Tensions
Adebayo refuted the idea that the opposition is merely watching, stating, “We are not bystanders because it’s our country.” He confirmed that he and other opposition figures have been speaking to international bodies, including the House of Lords in London, to support Nigeria, not the government. He mentioned that his advice to foreign partners has consistently been “Do not invade Nigeria” but to cooperate with the government despite its shortcomings, and to expand interactions with the opposition and civil society to ensure Nigeria is not treated like a “banana republic.” He criticized the government for turning a diplomatic problem into a public communication issue by using “argumentative, loquacious people” instead of utilizing experts and established diplomatic channels.
Government’s Military Response
On the recent military deployments and the order to withdraw police details from VIP protection for front-line duties, Adebayo stated, “nothing’s wrong with the armed forces. They have the wrong commander in chief, full stop.” He clarified that while an individual can be elected, they can still be the “wrong person” for the job. He argued that the recent actions, like the President staying home and meeting security chiefs, are “episodic, reactive actions” rather than the “systematic work of a commander in chief.” He advised the President to seek counsel from past commanders-in-chief like Ibrahim Babangida on how to properly command the armed forces.
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