Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the 2027 general election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has accused the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of presiding over policies that have deepened poverty and left millions of Nigerians struggling for survival.
Speaking during an interview on the state of the nation, Adebayo argued that the widespread hardship across the country was not accidental but the result of policy choices and governance failures under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to him, economic deprivation has become a powerful tool for weakening citizens and limiting their ability to hold government accountable.
“The poverty that Nigerians are facing is artificial, government-inflicted and self-tolerated by the people,” Adebayo said.
The SDP flag bearer maintained that many Nigerians have become so consumed by the daily struggle for food, transportation and basic necessities that they no longer have the time or resources to demand better governance.
“My opponent is not Tinubu,” he said. “My opponent is the ignorance of the people. Once they understand what government is supposed to do and what their rights are as citizens, they will know why they are suffering.”
Adebayo argued that the Tinubu administration has failed to uphold the social and economic obligations contained in Chapter Two of the Constitution, which outlines the responsibilities of government toward citizens.
He said Nigeria’s vast resources should be sufficient to guarantee quality education, economic opportunities and social welfare, insisting that the current levels of poverty and unemployment reflect governance failure rather than scarcity.
The SDP candidate cited the growing number of out-of-school children as evidence that government has abandoned its core responsibilities. He lamented that children of school age can be found hawking goods, begging on the streets and roaming communities across the country, while many of those enrolled in schools receive little meaningful education.
“There is no part of Nigeria where you will not find children selling on the streets or begging. Some receive no schooling at all, while others receive schooling without education,” he said.
Adebayo further alleged that the deterioration of the education system is producing poorly prepared graduates and making citizens more vulnerable to political manipulation.
According to him, poverty, unemployment and weak educational outcomes have created a society where many people settle for temporary relief and political patronage instead of demanding long-term reforms and accountable leadership.
He argued that such conditions ultimately benefit politicians who exploit economic hardship to secure loyalty and suppress public scrutiny.
The SDP standard-bearer said the solution lies in civic education and political enlightenment, urging Nigerians to understand both their rights and the obligations government owes them.
“Politicians are looking for voters, but citizens should first understand that they are citizens and what that means. Once they understand their rights, they will stop settling for crumbs and start demanding good governance,” he said.
Adebayo maintained that meaningful change would only come when Nigerians reject what he described as a culture of dependency and begin holding leaders accountable for the management of the nation’s resources.
He added that the challenge before opposition parties extends beyond defeating the ruling party at the polls to helping citizens become more politically conscious and engaged.
According to him, once Nigerians refuse to be controlled by poverty and patronage, the country’s democratic and economic fortunes will begin to improve.
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