The 2027 Presidential Candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has strongly criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following reports of the President’s intention to excuse himself from the 2027 presidential campaign circuit.
In a scathing reaction, Adebayo declared that the President’s self-exclusion is definitive proof that he is physically unfit to govern a nation as complex as Nigeria, urging him to “go home and let Nigeria breathe.”
In a Press Release signed by Comrade Mark Adebayo, his Presidential Campaign’s Chief Communications Adviser,
Adebayo argued that Nigeria cannot afford a “President in absentia” at a time when the nation requires active, hands-on leadership to navigate its current socio-economic challenges.
He mentioned that there have been several instances where the President has seemingly governed from a distance, including prolonged medical vacations disguised as working visits, his routine absence during critical national emergencies, and a growing reliance on proxies to communicate vital state policies.
These instances, Adebayo noted, have left a vacuum in governance, reducing the presidency to a series of Press releases rather than active leadership.
“Nigeria is too complex, too dynamic, and currently too distressed to be governed by remote control,” Adebayo stated. “
“We have seen repeated instances where the President is visibly missing when the country needs reassurance. From unannounced foreign trips during critical economic decisions to his complete silence during widespread regional protests, he has consistently acted like a president in absentia. If you are too tired to campaign, you are too weak to govern.”
Furthermore, Adebayo alleged that the President’s decision to hide from the campaign trail stems from a deep-seated fear of facing the Nigerian electorate.
He asserted that the devastating impacts of the administration’s economic policies – including skyrocketing inflation, fuel subsidy removal fallouts, and currency instability – have made the President unpopular, leaving him fearful of being booed by frustrated citizens.
“The excuse of bowing out of the 2027 campaign is a cowardly smokescreen,” Adebayo added. “The truth is that the President is terrified of the Nigerian people. He knows the pain his bad policies have inflicted on families across this country. He is hiding because he cannot face the public anger, and he knows that any public appearance on a campaign trail will be met with the collective booing of a betrayed populace. It is time to face reality: step aside, go home, and let this country breathe.”
The statement made a call to the administration to prioritise national interest over political survival, demanding full transparency regarding the President’s capacity to steer the affairs of the nation for the remainder of his term.
‘You’re tired and weak; go home, let Nigeria breathe’ —SDP’s Adebayo tackles Tinubu for excusing himself from 2027 APC campaign
