***Slams Rising Insecurity, Rivers Political Crisis, Says 2027 Will Not Be Business as Usual
Legal luminary and former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has delivered a scathing critique of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of presiding over worsening insecurity and a dysfunctional governance system.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja during a private event to mark his wife’s 50th birthday, Adebayo said President Tinubu has become nothing more than a “mascot of bad governance,” as insecurity, political instability, and economic hardship continue to escalate under his watch.
“What shocks me is that Nigerians are still shocked by Tinubu’s governance. We’ve always known that these people take elections seriously, but not governance,” Adebayo stated pointedly.
He described the deteriorating security situation as evidence of a systemic failure led by an unprepared leadership.
“The incompetence of President Tinubu and his security team speaks for itself. If the president were truly serious, he would return home and confront these issues head-on,” he said.
On the deepening political turmoil in Rivers State, Adebayo rejected the idea of an emergency rule, describing the ongoing crisis as a betrayal of democratic norms and a constitutional aberration.
“This so-called emergency, where elected officials are being stripped of their mandate, is unconstitutional. The solution is clear—restore the people’s mandate or conduct a fresh, credible election,” he insisted.
According to Adebayo, the Rivers political standoff is the result of a failed power-sharing conspiracy, not a governance structure built in the interest of the people.
Taking aim at state governors, the former SDP flagbearer said many are equally culpable, describing them as disconnected from their constitutional responsibilities and complicit in the overall governance failures.
“When the president sings the solo of incompetence, the governors join in the chorus. They are all singing bad songs,” he quipped.
While voicing support for the idea of state police, Adebayo said most governors lack the competence and authority to manage internal security effectively.
“The governors are mostly ceremonial leaders, powerless when it comes to security. They don’t understand what it means to govern,” he lamented.
Adebayo called on citizens to abandon political idolatry and instead focus on reclaiming governance from failed elites.
“Don’t waste time praying for politicians to succeed or fail. What matters is when we will have a government that truly emerges from the people and works in their interest,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to become the real opposition, insisting that meaningful change can only come from the people, not recycled political players.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Adebayo declared that the SDP will again present a credible platform, but warned that the party would not serve as a safe haven for disgruntled elements fleeing other political camps.
“We will contest in 2027. But we won’t be a getaway car for those seeking revenge or compensation for broken political promises. SDP is not for political mercenaries,” he emphasized.
He reaffirmed that the SDP remains committed to integrity, people-focused governance, and a clean break from politics as usual.
On a lighter note, when asked about his wife, the celebrant of the day, Adebayo offered a warm tribute:
“My wife is a blessing. She’s my greatest personal achievement—she helped me grow from a boy to a man.”
