2025 marked by abuse of power, hardship under Tinubu- Adebayo
Former presidential candidate and leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, has delivered a scathing assessment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, describing 2025 as a year marked by abuse of power, constitutional violations and deepening hardship for Nigerians.
Adebayo spoke during an interview on the sidelines of the Adebayo National Marathon in Ondo State, where he outlined concerns over governance standards, public accountability and Nigeria’s democratic trajectory under the current administration.
According to him, 2025 symbolised a sharp decline in governance, accusing the government of general unseriousness and repeated violations of the Appropriation Act and constitutional procedures. He argued that attempts to repeal budgets before their lifespan undermined democratic norms.
He dismissed claims of improved economic indicators, insisting that official statistics on inflation and food prices do not reflect the realities faced by ordinary Nigerians. Adebayo said transportation costs, rent, building materials, airfare and school fees have continued to rise nationwide.
He noted that many Nigerians are now forced to borrow to pay rent, school fees and basic living expenses, questioning which essential goods have actually become cheaper despite government assurances of economic recovery.
Adebayo also criticised the student loan policy, describing it as unconstitutional and harmful. He argued that education should be affordable under Nigeria’s constitution and warned that the scheme would trap young people in long-term debt and worsen unemployment and poverty.
On national security and foreign relations, Adebayo said Nigeria’s global standing has weakened, alleging poor leadership and lack of coherence in addressing insecurity despite the country’s capacity to secure itself.
He further warned against Nigeria sliding into what he described as a “one-party elite,” driven by political self-preservation, but expressed confidence that genuine opposition would come from Nigerians themselves. He urged citizens to stop rationalising hardship and instead revive civil society, strengthen the media and actively participate in politics to restore democratic accountability.
