Dare Babalola
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has delivered a scathing assessment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, declaring that his latest birthday marks what it described as his “final birthday in office,” while urging him to reflect deeply on the state of the nation.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Sunday by its spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party said the occasion should not merely be celebratory but a moment of sober reflection for both the president and the country.
While extending birthday wishes to the president, the ADC said Nigerians are increasingly confronted with the realities of what it termed the “impact” of Tinubu’s leadership, arguing that the administration’s policies have significantly worsened living conditions across the country.
The party highlighted the sharp increase in fuel prices, claiming that costs have risen by nearly 500 percent under Tinubu’s watch. According to the ADC, this surge has made transportation unaffordable for many Nigerians, turning everyday mobility into what it described as “a daily calculation of survival” for citizens already grappling with economic hardship.
Beyond economic concerns, the ADC raised alarm over the country’s deteriorating security situation. It pointed to Nigeria’s position on the Global Terrorism Index, stating that the country has climbed to fourth place globally, with thousands of lives reportedly lost to violent attacks. The party lamented that families have been torn apart and communities displaced, alleging that, in extreme cases, a Nigerian is killed every hour by insurgents.
The statement further criticised what it described as the government’s handling of insecurity, accusing the administration of failing to take decisive responsibility. It faulted the tone of official rhetoric, alleging that those behind acts of violence are sometimes referred to in conciliatory terms, even as victims continue to suffer losses.
On the economic front, the ADC said the broader cost-of-living crisis has deepened under Tinubu’s leadership. It argued that inflationary pressures and policy decisions have eroded purchasing power, leaving millions of Nigerians disillusioned. The party added that the president’s much-publicised “Renewed Hope” agenda has, in its view, translated into hardship for many households.
The opposition party also expressed concern about Nigeria’s political climate, warning of what it described as a gradual narrowing of democratic space. It cautioned against what it termed a “steady drift toward a one-party state,” stressing that Nigeria’s democracy was hard-earned and must be protected.
Despite its criticisms, the ADC framed its message within the context of a birthday reflection, urging the president to use the final year of his administration to change course.
The party said, “So as you celebrate your final year in office, Nigerians can only offer a prayer, that this next year brings a sudden and unfamiliar miracle: that you begin to take governance more seriously; that you finally see the loss of lives under your watch as a failure of your leadership; and that you begin, at the very least, to act with the weight and responsibility of leading the world’s most populous Black nation.”
It further called on Tinubu to acknowledge the scale of insecurity as a failure of leadership and to demonstrate a stronger sense of responsibility befitting the leader of Africa’s most populous nation.
The statement concluded with a mix of well-wishes and admonition, expressing hope that the president would exhibit improved judgment and a renewed commitment to addressing the challenges facing Nigerians.
President Tinubu, who turned 74, has continued to receive mixed reactions from political stakeholders, with allies praising his reform agenda while opposition figures, including the ADC, intensify criticism ahead of the next electoral cycle.
