The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the 2023 general election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has reaffirmed that the party will not enter into any alliance with politicians who lack a clear ideological framework for addressing the hardship faced by Nigerians.
Speaking with journalists at his country home in the Ondo GRA ahead of the Prince Adewole Adebayo 2025 Christmas Marathon and Queen Lilian Adebayo Health Walk held in Ondo City on Sunday, Adebayo described the administration of President Bola Tinubu as a disaster that has inflicted widespread pain and suffering on Nigerians.
He said the country urgently requires leaders driven by patriotism who can rescue Nigeria from its current challenges and restore hope, rather than individuals who could perform even worse than the present government.
He expressed concern that advocates of political alliances lack credibility, ideology and the moral authority needed to reposition the country, warning that removing Tinubu only to replace him with worse alternatives would further compound Nigeria’s problems.
Adebayo clarified that while the SDP is not opposed to coalitions, it will not associate with individuals of questionable character or those whose past records and motives run contrary to the party’s principles.
“We are talking with the coalition, and we are trying to find a common purpose. This common purpose has to have meaning in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
“The fact that President Bola Tinubu is a disaster does not mean I should accept the same things I dislike him for from others. That’s why I interviewed each of them who came. I don’t even bother to interview some of them, and you all know them,” he said.
He argued that several opposition figures pushing for a coalition are merely exploiting public frustration over the poor performance of the current administration, rather than offering a sincere and credible alternative.
According to him, “They are people seeking patronage in government under the guise of fighting for the masses.
“I think it’s better to make sure that the person who wants to collaborate with us doesn’t have similar tendencies like the person we want to take away power from.
“President Tinubu is a disaster, no doubt about it. He has failed economically, politically, socially and even in security which is the primary purpose of any government – to secure the lives and property of citizens. But, I can assure you that these people, who are mouthing coalition, are going to be worse if we don’t interrogate them properly.
“When the current All Progressives Congress leaders formed their own coalition to remove Goodluck Jonathan and I saw their mascot, the late President Muhammadu Buhari, I was convinced that we would be dead. And that was what happened. Buhari was a plague to Nigerians but Tinubu has proven to be even worse than Buhari. We are still in coalition talks but we should make sure that someone who is worse is not smuggled in. Some people are doing coalition after leaving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) custody on bail,” he said.
The SDP leader further stressed that any coalition involving the party must be founded on shared ideology, responsibility and accountability.
“You must first confess your contribution to the problems we are facing today as a country before you can talk about coalition,” he said.
He also observed that many politicians are heavily dependent on government patronage, revealing how he convinced SDP leaders that staying out of power was preferable to compromising the trust of Nigerians.
“Some people are incapable of being outside the government for six hours because they are used to free cars, houses and privileges.
“For me, if you cannot help the Nigerian people, let us not kill them. It is better not to enter into the government than to become enemies of the people. Tinubu is a failure but let us not put his likes or those worse than him in government,” he advised.
