Tinubu’s Government Has Made Poverty A Tool Of Control, Nigerians Are Suffering From Artificial Hardship — SDP’s Adebayo

Abuja, Nigeria — The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the forthcoming 2027 general elections, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of deliberately presiding over policies that have plunged millions of Nigerians into poverty, arguing that economic hardship has become a tool for political control and suppression.

Speaking during an interview on the state of the nation, Adebayo said the widespread suffering across Nigeria is neither accidental nor unavoidable but the direct result of government policies and governance failures under the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration.

According to him, millions of Nigerians have become so consumed by the struggle for daily survival that they are unable to focus on demanding accountability, good governance and the constitutional rights due to them as citizens.

“The poverty that Nigerians are facing is artificial, government-inflicted and self-tolerated by the people,” Adebayo said.

The SDP leader argued that rather than creating opportunities for citizens through quality education, economic empowerment and effective social welfare programmes, the government has overseen conditions that keep people dependent on political patronage and handouts.

He maintained that a population battling hunger and deprivation would naturally find it difficult to challenge those in power or insist on constitutional guarantees from elected leaders.

“My opponent is not Tinubu,” Adebayo 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 further argued that the Tinubu administration has failed to uphold the principles of governance outlined in Chapter Two of the Nigerian Constitution, which sets out the responsibilities and obligations of government toward citizens.

According to him, if public resources were properly managed and deployed in accordance with constitutional provisions, the current levels of poverty, unemployment and social dislocation across the country would not exist.

He said the worsening socio-economic situation in Nigeria reflects a government that has failed to prioritize the welfare and development of its citizens despite the country’s abundant resources.

The SDP chieftain pointed to the growing number of out-of-school children across the country as evidence of what he described as the government’s neglect of its fundamental responsibilities.

According to Adebayo, children of school age can be seen hawking goods, begging on the streets and engaging in other forms of child labour in virtually every part of Nigeria, while many of those enrolled in schools are not receiving 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.

He alleged that the APC-led government has allowed the nation’s education sector to deteriorate to such an extent that many graduates are emerging from institutions without the skills, competence and knowledge required to contribute meaningfully to national development.

Adebayo warned that poor educational standards pose a serious threat to democracy because an uninformed and poorly educated population is easier to manipulate politically and less likely to question those in authority.

The SDP presidential hopeful also accused the government of diverting public attention away from the fundamental issues affecting Nigerians while insecurity, unemployment, inflation and economic hardship continue to worsen.

According to him, the prevailing socio-economic conditions have created a society where many citizens are more inclined to accept temporary relief, political gifts and patronage rather than demand long-term reforms capable of transforming the country.

He argued that such a situation ultimately benefits politicians who exploit poverty to secure political loyalty and discourage public scrutiny.

Adebayo said political enlightenment and civic education remain the most effective solutions to Nigeria’s challenges, insisting that citizens must understand both their rights and the obligations government owes them under the Constitution.

“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.

The SDP stalwart maintained that meaningful political change would only become possible when Nigerians reject what he described as a culture of dependency and begin holding leaders accountable for the management of the nation’s resources and opportunities.

He added that the responsibility of opposition parties and reform-minded leaders extends beyond defeating President Tinubu in an election, stressing that the real challenge is awakening citizens to their constitutional rights, responsibilities and democratic power.

According to Adebayo, once Nigerians become politically conscious and refuse to be controlled through poverty, patronage and economic dependence, the country’s democratic institutions and economic fortunes will begin to improve.

He expressed optimism that a more politically enlightened citizenry would demand greater accountability from public officials and push for governance that prioritises development, social justice and national prosperity.