…blames poor leadership, not region, for economic challenges
The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has defended Northern Nigeria against what he described as unfair characterisation of the region as the country’s major challenge.
Adebayo, at a press conference in Abuja, said the North remained one of Nigeria’s greatest economic assets because of its vast land, youthful population and agricultural potential.
He argued that the challenges associated with the region were products of poor leadership and lack of investment rather than inherent weaknesses.
“The North is a paradise. Every square inch of the North, from Lokoja to Jakusko, Yobe, to anywhere, is an asset,” he said.
According to him, the region has enough resources to contribute significantly to Nigeria’s development if properly managed.
“There is no state in the North that you can say is too poor. The resources in Yobe alone are enough,” he stated.
Adebayo said Nigeria should focus on improving education, agriculture and human capital development rather than blaming geographical regions for governance failures.
“Focus on poor leadership, remove poor leadership, and stop complaining about the North. There is nothing about the North that does not make the North a powerhouse,” he said.
He described agriculture as one of the biggest opportunities available in the region, citing its large expanse of arable land.
“Agriculture cannot be done in the air. You have to do it on the ground,” he said.
On opposition plans for a coalition ahead of the 2027 elections, Adebayo said the country’s priority should be producing competent leadership rather than focusing on political arrangements.
He said regardless of the number of political parties or presidential candidates, Nigeria would ultimately have only one president at a time.
“What we want is for all Nigerians to unite, not only opposition. All Nigerians to unite,” he said.
Adebayo added that Nigerians across political divides were dissatisfied with the current administration, describing Tinubu’s government as one that had lost public confidence.
“The greatest victims of Tinubu now are people inside APC,” he said.
