Adewole Adebayo, the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over the worsening multidimensional poverty in Nigeria, accusing him of failing to provide solutions to the economic challenges facing millions of Nigerians.
Adebayo said it was increasingly clear that Tinubu was disconnected from the daily struggles of ordinary Nigerians, arguing that the President had failed to adequately address the hardship affecting the population.
The SDP candidate said Tinubu appeared detached from the realities confronting Nigerians, despite being in a position to understand and tackle the country’s economic challenges.
“It is increasingly clear that President Tinubu doesn’t live in Nigeria to feel the problems of the people. If he does live here, his mind is not here,” Adebayo said during an interview with ARISE News.
He expressed concern that Tinubu had taken three and a half years to acknowledge the existence of poverty in Nigeria, yet, according to him, had failed to present a workable solution to the problem.
Adebayo argued that the President should be held accountable for his administration’s handling of poverty and the wider economic difficulties facing the country.
He also rejected any suggestion that Tinubu should be excused from criticism on the grounds that his political opponents had not previously served as president.
According to him, the fact that other political figures have not occupied the highest office in the country does not remove Tinubu’s responsibility to deliver on his promises and address the needs of Nigerians.
Adebayo maintained that Tinubu had been entrusted with the responsibility of governing the country and should therefore be judged by his administration’s response to the challenges confronting citizens.
His comments come amid continuing public concerns over the cost of living, household incomes and access to basic necessities, with poverty remaining a major issue in Nigeria’s economic and political debate.
The SDP candidate’s remarks place renewed focus on the Federal Government’s efforts to address multidimensional poverty, which extends beyond income to include access to education, healthcare, housing, sanitation and other essential services.
Adebayo’s criticism centres on the argument that acknowledging poverty is not enough without effective policies capable of improving living conditions and easing the burden on ordinary Nigerians.
