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By Tracy Moses
Prominent lawyer and former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has delivered a scathing critique of President Bola Tinubu and his security chiefs, describing their handling of the country’s security situation as a glaring failure of governance.
In a candid interview with journalists at his wife’s 50th birthday celebration on the evening of April 21, 2025, Adebayo, renowned for his unfiltered remarks, did not hold back in expressing his thoughts.
While many Nigerians continue to grapple with the rising wave of bloodshed and kidnappings, Adebayo remained notably unphased, calling out the government’s failure with unwavering conviction.
“What shocks me about Nigerians is their shock over Tinubu. We have known all along that these people don’t care about governance. They care about elections, yes, but governance? Not even close.”
His words were a direct challenge to the current administration’s failure to prioritize the security and welfare of the people.” he remarked sharply.
According to Adebayo, the role of the president should be fundamentally rooted in national security, public welfare, and justice.
He stated that these critical responsibilities cannot be neglected, particularly when the nation is grappling with such a severe security crisis.
“The incompetence of President Tinubu and his security team is there for all to see. If the president truly cares, he would stop shirking his duties abroad and come back to confront the problems that are tearing this country apart.”
Adebayo also weighed in on the controversial emergency rule in Rivers State, which he criticized as a blatant violation of Nigeria’s Constitution.
He demanded the restoration of power to the people, asserting that democracy should never be undermined by undemocratic means.
“Every day that we live with this emergency rule, with so-called elected officials stripped of their mandate, is a day we are failing as a country,” he said passionately. “The solution is simple, either restore the people’s mandate or call for a fresh, credible election.”
He further described the crisis in Rivers as the consequence of a political conspiracy that had backfired.
“This entire mess is the fallout of a conspiracy that collapsed under the weight of its own dishonesty,” he remarked.
Turning his ire on state governors, Adebayo labeled them as “disconnected” from their core duties of leadership.
“These governors are just figures in the background. They are as ineffective as they are clueless. They can’t protect their citizens, and yet they parade around, pretending they have power,” he said.
Adebayo also pointed out the inherent contradictions within the system, noting that when the president’s incompetence is covered up, state governors simply echo that failure. “It’s a chorus of incompetence,” he said.
The issue of state policing also came under fire, with Adebayo emphasizing that governors, despite their proximity to their constituents, lack both the authority and will to handle internal security effectively.
“The governors are mere bystanders in the security debate. They don’t know what it means to truly govern. When it comes to security, they are powerless, and that’s the bitter truth, ” he stressed.
Tg SDP chieftain called on Nigerians to rise above the shackles of partisan politics, urging the citizenry to focus on securing a government that serves their interests.
“Stop waiting for politicians to succeed or fail, that is not your business. What matters is when we, the people, will finally have a government that is ours, a government that listens, a government that works for us,” he declared firmly.