Copyright leadership
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has warned against any attempt to justify a military takeover in Nigeria, insisting that nothing good can ever come out of military rule. Adebayo stated this while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he addressed reports of an alleged military coup and the state of governance in the country. According to him, while the current administration has failed to meet the expectations of Nigerians, resorting to military intervention is not a solution to the nation’s problems. He maintained that democracy, though fragile, remains the only path to sustainable governance and progress. “First, democracy is fragile. Whether they don’t want free or fair elections, democracy is fragile everywhere in the world. The best assurance against the disturbance of a military coup or a breakdown of law and order is good governance. “We need to sustain this civilian system because it is fragile, and the fact that you are in government does not mean that you are safe. Just the way there is insecurity of life for Nigerians, there may soon be insecurity of tenure for the political class.” Adebayo, one of the most outspoken critics of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, said that even though the government’s performance has been poor, Nigerians must not romanticise military rule. “I don’t think there is any justification whatsoever. I’m the number one critic of the government’s poor performance and its inability to meet Nigerians’ aspirations, but nothing good can come out of the military. It is not an option for us.” Speaking further on the administration’s economic policies, Adebayo took a jab at President Tinubu’s tax drive, describing him as “a clever tax collector.” “Tinubu is a clever tax collector; he might soon begin to collect oxygen tax on the air we breathe, if we are not careful.” He further argued that instead of overburdening Nigerians with levies, the government should focus on improving governance and providing relief for struggling citizens. He urged those in power to embrace accountability and reform rather than allowing the country’s democratic system to collapse under inefficiency and public discontent. “Civilian rule must be defended and strengthened through good governance. If those in power continue to neglect the people, they might soon find their own positions insecure. But still, the answer is reform, not rebellion,” he added.
