The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of using poverty and economic hardship as instruments to weaken citizens and discourage them from demanding accountability from the government.
Adebayo made the allegation during an interview on the state of the nation, where he argued that the widespread suffering across the country was not accidental but a direct consequence of policies and governance failures under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to him, millions of Nigerians have become so consumed by the struggle for survival that they are unable to fully exercise their rights as citizens or hold leaders accountable.
“The poverty that Nigerians are facing is artificial, government-inflicted and self-tolerated by the people,” Adebayo said.
The SDP chieftain maintained that rather than empowering citizens through quality education, economic opportunities and social welfare programmes, the government has presided over conditions that keep people dependent on political patronage and handouts.
He argued that a population burdened by hunger and economic hardship would naturally find it difficult to challenge authority or demand constitutional guarantees from elected leaders.
“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 further accused the administration of failing to uphold the principles of governance enshrined in Chapter Two of the Constitution, which outlines the responsibilities of government towards citizens.
He said that if public resources were properly managed and deployed in line with constitutional provisions, the levels of poverty, unemployment and social dislocation currently being witnessed across the country would be significantly reduced.
The former presidential candidate cited the growing number of out-of-school children as evidence of what he described as government neglect of its core responsibilities.
According to him, children of school age can be seen hawking goods, begging for alms and roaming the streets in many parts of the country, while a large number of those enrolled in schools receive little or no 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 stated.
Adebayo also alleged that the education system has deteriorated under successive APC administrations, producing graduates who are ill-equipped to contribute meaningfully to national development.
He warned that a poorly educated population is easier to manipulate politically and less likely to hold leaders accountable.
The SDP leader further accused the government of distracting Nigerians from fundamental issues affecting their lives, even as insecurity, unemployment and economic hardship continue to worsen.
According to him, the prevailing conditions have created a society in which citizens are more willing to accept short-term relief and political gifts than demand long-term reforms and good governance.
He argued that the situation benefits politicians who exploit poverty to secure loyalty and suppress public scrutiny.
Adebayo said the solution lies in political enlightenment and civic education, insisting that Nigerians must understand the meaning of citizenship 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.
He maintained that meaningful political change would only occur when Nigerians reject what he described as a culture of dependency and begin holding leaders accountable for the nation’s vast resources and opportunities.
According to Adebayo, the responsibility of opposition parties and reform-minded leaders extends beyond defeating President Tinubu at the polls to awakening citizens to their constitutional rights and responsibilities.
He expressed confidence that Nigeria’s democratic and economic fortunes would improve once citizens become politically conscious and refuse to be controlled by poverty and patronage.
