Prominent lawyer and former Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has come down hard on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his security chiefs, describing their handling of insecurity across the country as a product of incompetence and misplaced priorities.
In an exclusive interview with journalists yesterday during the celebrations of his wife 50th birthday party , Adebayo declared that while many Nigerians remain shocked by the rising wave of killings and kidnappings, he is unsurprised, stating:
“What shocks me about Nigerians is that they are shocked about Tinubu because we knew that these people don’t take governance seriously. They take elections seriously, but not governance.”
He noted that the primary duty of any president is to act as the Commander-in-Chief, ensuring national security, welfare, justice, and development.
“The incompetence of President Tinubu and his security team speaks for itself,” he said. “If the president is serious-minded, he should come home and address the issues.”
Commenting on the controversial emergency rule in Rivers State, Adebayo condemned the situation as a breach of Nigeria’s Constitution and called for a return to people-led governance.
“Every day that we have this emergency, which results in so-called elected people being taken out of their mandate, is wrong,” he said. “The solution is clear either restore the mandate of the people or conduct a fresh credible election.”
Adebayo described the crisis as a fallout of a “conspiracy that broke down,” adding that it was never formed in the interest of the Rivers people.
The former presidential candidate didn’t spare the governors either, describing them as unserious and disconnected from the responsibilities of governance.
“When you cover the incompetence of the president, the president sings the solo. The governors sing the chorus with him. They are all singing bad songs,” he said.
While advocating for state policing, Adebayo noted that most governors lack both the capacity and authority to manage internal security effectively.
“The governors are just piling around town. They don’t know the meaning of being a governor,” he said. “They’re powerless when it comes to security.”
Urging Nigerians to shift their focus away from partisan politics, Adebayo advised citizens to take charge of their political future:
“Don’t pray for politicians to succeed or fail it’s none of your business. What you should think about is when this country will get a government that comes from the people and works for them.”
He emphasized that the real opposition must come from the people, not just political elites.
Declaring his intention to contest in 2027, Adebayo affirmed that the SDP is open to alliances, but not at the expense of integrity.
“We will run in 2027. But we won’t be a getaway car for a conspiracy and robbery we didn’t plan,” he asserted. “If you are just coming to retaliate for an insult or a broken promise from Tinubu’s camp, then SDP is not for you.”
He made it clear that the SDP remains a party for the Nigerian people, not a platform for displaced political actors seeking revenge.
