Prince Adewole Adebayo, presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 elections, has urged President Bola Tinubu to shift his focus from political alliances ahead of 2027 and pay closer attention to the growing frustration among Nigerians.

Speaking in a recent interview, Adebayo said Tinubu is smart enough to understand that the new coalition of politicians isn’t the real threat. According to him, “Most of those forming the coalition are close allies of the president. You’ll find countless photos of them together. They’re all part of the same political circle.”

He emphasized that the real danger lies in the dissatisfaction of ordinary Nigerians who are battling economic hardship. “What should worry the president isn’t political billboards or photo ops, but the actual pain people are going through daily,” he said.

Adebayo accused Tinubu of being more focused on securing a second term than addressing the country’s pressing challenges. “Let’s be honest. What we’re seeing isn’t an administration. It’s just a presidency. There’s no real governance going on,” he stated. He described the presidency as being disconnected from reality, run by a small circle of people who are out of touch with the struggles on the ground.

Adebayo didn’t hold back on the government’s handling of the economy either. He criticized the two budgets under Tinubu’s leadership, saying neither has provided real solutions. “Both budgets have failed to tackle the core problems, and the second one is even worse than the first. There’s no clear grip on employment or poverty,” he said.

He stressed that the best way to fight poverty is through job creation, something he believes the current government is failing at. “Until they get serious about creating jobs, the suffering will continue,” he warned.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has taken a swipe at President Bola Tinubu’s government, calling its new “Nigeria First” slogan a shallow PR stunt rather than a genuine effort to fix the country.

In a statement through his aide, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku questioned the sincerity of the campaign and urged Tinubu to lead by example. He challenged the President to ditch his luxury foreign-made Escalade for a locally built vehicle from companies like Innoson or Nord. According to Atiku, such a move would speak louder than any policy document.

He also criticized Tinubu’s ministers, mocking them as “Rolls Royce lovers” and calling on them to embrace Nigerian-made cars in solidarity with citizens facing economic hardship. Atiku didn’t stop there. He asked Tinubu to swap his foreign holidays for visits to places like Obudu Cattle Ranch, Yankari Game Reserve, or Erin Ijesha Waterfalls. “Nigeria is beautiful — unless the President believes otherwise,” he said.

On the matter of healthcare, Atiku slammed the President’s recurring medical trips abroad, calling it a clear contradiction to the self-reliance message. He insisted that Tinubu should receive all medical treatment at Nigerian hospitals such as LUTH, UCH, or the well-equipped facility in Uyo, arguing that if these hospitals are good enough for the public, they should serve the Commander-in-Chief as well.

He ended by saying the government was asking Nigerians to make sacrifices while it continued to indulge in luxury. “Real leadership means setting an example,” he said. “We don’t need more speeches or staged photos. What this country needs is action.”

President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, has suggested that Atiku Abubakar, the former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), might soon throw his weight behind Tinubu’s administration.

Speaking on TVC’s Journalists Hangout, Bwala addressed the wave of defections hitting the PDP. He criticized the party for lacking clear leadership and direction, saying no right-thinking person would choose to remain in a party that seems lost and disorganized.

Bwala explained that the responsibility to prevent Nigeria from becoming a one-party state lies with the opposition, not the ruling party. According to him, the APC has every right to expand its base and attract more people. If opposition parties fail to present strong alternatives, they shouldn’t blame others for their internal problems.

He likened the current situation to people naturally moving towards a better environment. “If your house is in shambles, don’t blame your neighbor for having a well-kept one,” he said. He noted that even governors protected by the constitution are defecting because aligning with the federal government puts them in a better position to serve their people effectively.

Bwala also pointed out that Tinubu deserves more credit for his inclusive style of leadership. He mentioned that Tinubu is not limiting his governance to just members of his party but is engaging people across the board, regardless of political affiliation.

Wrapping up, Bwala didn’t mince words. He claimed joining the PDP now would be like putting your mental health at risk. “What we’re focused on is governance,” he added, hinting again that Atiku supporting Tinubu might not be far-fetched after all.