By Joyce Ekeh
The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has accused President Bola Tinubu of “abdicated” leadership of Nigeria to family members, principal aides and other unelected individuals, alleging that the country is being run without effective presidential oversight.
The opposition party, in a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, said the alleged leadership vacuum was evident in the administration’s handling of insecurity, the economy and Nigeria’s international engagements.
The APM claimed that individuals close to the President had assumed significant control of government, leaving Nigerians without the “energetic, hands-on” leadership it said the country required.
“The Party also asserts that President Tinubu has abdicated his official duties to a cabal comprising of family members, principal aides and other unelected persons who have seized control of the administration,” Yusuf said.
The party also criticised the President’s absence from some international engagements, particularly the United Nations General Assembly, arguing that Nigeria’s interests required stronger presidential representation on the global stage.
“Mr. President’s repeated absence at meetings of world leaders, particularly, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) also underscores his inability to effectively represent, propagate and drive Nigeria’s interest at the global level,” the statement said.
Where Is Presidential Presence?
On insecurity, the APM questioned what it described as the President’s limited direct engagement with communities affected by terrorism, kidnapping and banditry.
“Is it not absurd that President Tinubu has never visited any of the communities being ravaged by terrorists, kidnappers and bandits?” the party asked.
“Is it not equally absurd that President Tinubu has never directly met with grieving families and victims?”
The party alleged that more than 600,000 Nigerians had been killed and many others abducted by terrorist groups over the past three years. It blamed what it described as the administration’s “languid approach” to insecurity.
The figures and characterisations were presented by the APM as part of its criticism of the administration.
Economic Hardship
The opposition party also took aim at the government’s economic policies, including fuel subsidy removal, tax measures and external borrowing.
It alleged that the policies had intensified pressure on households and businesses, citing unemployment of 33.3 per cent and a poverty rate of 63 per cent. The APM further claimed that more than 140 million Nigerians had been pushed into severe economic hardship.
On public debt, the party put Nigeria’s debt burden at N159.28 trillion and questioned what it described as the limited visible benefits of the government’s borrowing.
The APM also claimed that more than 3.7 million Nigerians had left the country in the continuing “Japa” migration wave, saying the trend was contributing to the loss of skilled professionals in critical sectors.
2027 Battle Lines Drawn
The party said the combination of insecurity, economic hardship and what it described as weak presidential engagement meant Nigeria could not afford another four years under the Tinubu administration.
“The fact is that Nigeria cannot afford another four years under such an insensitive and rudderless administration,” the APM said.
“President Tinubu must understand that Nigeria requires a leader with full stamina, who is present, accessible and fully engaged in governance.”
The APM has positioned Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde as its preferred alternative for the 2027 presidential election, describing him as a younger and experienced leader with a blueprint to “Reset Nigeria.”
The party cited Makinde’s record in Oyo State as evidence of the leadership model it wants replicated at the federal level.
It consequently called on Tinubu to abandon any bid for another term and support Makinde in the 2027 presidential election.
“Governance cannot be left to uncertainty, nor can the lives of about 250 million Nigerians be placed on autopilot,” the party said.
