Tinubu Scoring A1 in Politics, F9 in Governance – SDP’s Adewole Adebayo

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has criticised President Bola Tinubu, stating that while the president excels in political maneuvering, he is performing poorly in governance.

Speaking in an interview with Vanguard, Adebayo questioned the possibility of Tinubu leaving behind a meaningful legacy, given what he described as a glaring failure in addressing the core needs of Nigerians.

“You have to give President Tinubu an A1 in politics. The only problem he has with the A1 is that he tends to have an F9 in governance,” Adebayo said.

He commended Tinubu’s strategic control over the political class but noted that such prowess has not translated into tangible benefits for the Nigerian people.

“He knows the political class very well. He understands what motivates them—how to recruit, retire, retrench, and reengage them. But that’s not governance. If he cannot save lives in Benue, Plateau, and other troubled parts of the country, then he has failed,” Adebayo added.

The legal practitioner and politician also accused the president of underestimating the political awareness of the Nigerian electorate.

According to him, Tinubu believes that by capturing political institutions and co-opting political elites, opposition voices will be silenced. However, Adebayo warned that true opposition will ultimately come from the people.

“He assumes Nigerians are not politically aware. But he forgets that the real opposition is the electorate, not the politicians,” he said.

Adebayo also took a swipe at politicians who only speak out when they are excluded from government appointments.

“Those who think career politicians will provide real opposition are mistaken. It’s only when they’re left out of ministerial lists or board appointments that they remember to raise their voices—just so they can be brought back,” he said.

Adebayo’s remarks add to the growing chorus of criticism from opposition voices questioning the effectiveness of the Tinubu administration amid ongoing economic and security challenges.