In an interview, Prince Adewole Adebayo, who ran for president under the SDP ticket in the 2023 elections, discusses President Tinubu’s achievements and shortcomings over the past two years. Additionally, he addresses issues within party politics and recent shifts in the leadership of the NNPCL.
On May 29, President Bola Tinubu will complete two years in office. How would you evaluate the policies implemented during his tenure?
In what ways are you strategizing to prevent President Bola Tinubu and the APC from securing another term in 2027?
Where does the SDP stand concerning your political aspirations; do you believe you can secure their nomination for the presidency in 2027?
Are rumors suggesting Peter Obi might join the SDP true?
Can the SDP provide an adequate organizational framework to support such ambitions?
Given the challenges faced in forming a strong alliance, isn’t it likely going to be extremely tough to oust Tinubu in 2027?
What are your views regarding the recent changes in leadership within the NNPCI?
Do you consider the appointment of the new NNPCLI CEO as both advantageous and a commendable move by the president?
Recently, President Tinubu instructed Ojulari to supply 2 million barrels daily over the coming two years and increase that amount to 5 million barrels daily after five years. Doesn’t this seem like a risky proposition?
On May 29, President Bola Tinubu will reach two full years in power. Could you share your perspective on the effectiveness of his policy initiatives?
The achievements or shortcomings of this government mirror the well-being of citizens through hunger, stress evident on their faces, and unemployment rates. This is highlighted by the deteriorating condition of infrastructure, the significant depreciation and devaluation of our currency, and mounting debts. These factors indicate where things stand currently. Over the past couple of years, efforts were focused on stabilizing the situation. As for the Ministers of Finance and Budget and Planning, after handling two budgets, their previous fiscal execution has been precarious. Last year, their budget implementation stood around 25%, which implies delivering less than one-quarter of promised services. Essentially, out of every ten pledges, roughly seven did not materialize successfully. Hence, this does not bode well as an initial phase.
However, my advice remains consistent: two years should suffice to bring about notable changes. Within the following two-year period, competition for positions may intensify once more. Thus, I urge these officials to demonstrate empathy and reallocate at least 10% of their budget toward immediate job creation initiatives. Actions taken now could yield tangible outcomes within six months. It would be beneficial to address issues like high living costs for basic goods and improve public transport systems directly.
The CNG initiative they launched is heading in the correct direction; however, their progress has been quite sluggish. Thus, they cannot afford to waste much time. They might only have up to four years at most. Deception will do them no favors. A second term isn’t guaranteed for them. In fact, I am actively involved in ensuring they won’t secure another term, just as others like myself are doing our part to prevent this from happening too. Hence, numerous individuals share my objective—to stop them from getting a second term.
What strategies do you have in mind for achieving your objective of preventing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from serving a second term with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027?
The first step is to connect with them, ensuring they understand that our affection for the nation remains unwavering. While we do not oppose individuals within those groups, we firmly stand against certain policies. Each policy must be addressed individually, highlighting their flaws and exposing these issues to the Nigerian public. This approach benefits all Nigerians, including members of the APC, many of whom also face hardships alongside others across Nigeria. Regardless of party affiliation, beyond organizational premises—be it entering a cab like an Uber, shopping at markets, attending schools, or seeking medical care—the concerns over political affiliations become irrelevant.
We'll bring that campaign directly to the Nigerian people. Those who claim President Tinubu is immovable seem to overlook his very humanity; he’s merely a person like all of us. It's impossible for anyone to declare themselves invincible—only God possesses such steadfastness. Additionally, entities that previously made similar claims, like the PDP stating they would rule for 60 years, managed to stay in power for less than half that time at around 16 years.
I was informed that my background was impressive due to excellent upbringing and a commendable family history — Ayo Adebanjo from Bauchi supports Senator Ningi for governorship; Solidarity Movement backs their candidacy. In Anambra, Onyeze has been chosen as the gubernatorial nominee for the Accord Party. As for your prospects with the SDP, what are your chances of securing the party’s nomination for president in 2027?
Acquiring the ticket hinges upon the SDP members. They recognize me. Individuals are enrolling in my party, and we’re embracing them wholeheartedly. It’s evident just how actively involved I am in this process. Our minor challenge lies in adjusting the cultural mindset of those who join us. Transitioning into an environment where regulations are strictly adhered to might be difficult for someone accustomed to a more relaxed rule set. Some individuals come from backgrounds involving activities akin to boy scouts or engaging in underground markets. However, we address these issues as they arise. We warmly receive everyone. We firmly believe their participation will bolster our party significantly. Personally, I’m completely unfazed by mentions of figures such as Nasir El-Rufai, Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and others joining up. Additionally, reports indicate that former Governor Peter Obi may also become part of our ranks. Many are stepping forward, and we embrace each one without reservation.
Is Peter Obi becoming part of the SDP?
It seems like this might be true, yet we won't know for sure until someone actually signs up. His supporters are en route though. Additionally, my National Secretary mentioned that discussions are underway. These individuals will arrive soon enough. However, upon their arrival, should we adhere strictly to the guidelines and permit an individual to stand out candidly—without deceit, illegality, or various malpractices often criticized by Nigerians—we could achieve transparency similar to what we experienced during our 2022 convention. There were no legal disputes, crises, or accusations then.
If they adopt our practices from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and avoid fearing honest competition where bribery and corruption aren’t necessary to succeed, we’ll offer a strong opposition to both the All Progressives Congress (APC) party and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu himself. Our aim is to ensure he returns to Lagos or another location within Nigeria following elections. From day one, our focus must shift towards genuinely addressing the needs of Nigerian citizens.
Is the SDP organized in such a way?
Yeah, you can say we are structure-less, but we rely on Nigerian people. We don’t have any structure based on criminality, structure based on bribery, or diversion of public funds. We rely on the structure based on the people, and the people who are working hardest for the SDP to come to power are APC because they have turned the furnace fire on the back of the Nigerian people. They are making Nigerian people suffer to get paid and when they get the pay, it cannot buy them food. They are making life tough and they are making decisions that do not favour the people. They are spending trillions on projects that are invisible. So, people are driving on roads that are not paved but they are building roads by the side and nobody can see the roads. We have a N55 trillion budget that doesn’t trickle down to the people. So, President Tinubu is working hard for us to come to power and defeat him. He is working hard to see that he will be the last APC president. So, they are working hard in that regard because they are not taking care of the people.
Given the failure to create a strong alliance, isn't it unlikely that they'll manage to overcome Tinubu in 2027?
It’s challenging but achievable, and we’re keeping our cards close to our chest for now. To put it simply: Many individuals aspire to become president; I am one of them, as everyone knows. Similarly, Vice President Atiku Abubakar desires the position, Peter Obi does too, and several others have their sights set on it without publicly declaring it—yet they remain contenders nonetheless.
The key factor here is that everyone involved operates within the same structure. If this structure is robust, fair, and decisive—and ultimately brings everyone together to support the victor—it will succeed. However, a coalition—or anything similar—that fails to engage the public won’t work because politicians often overestimate their influence. Our objective should be forming an alliance with the Nigerian populace. This hasn’t been attempted previously since the APC’s earlier effort which led to President Buhari being elected was essentially a politician-driven coalition. We’re advising those among our colleagues stuck in the past to look ahead. You must grasp that another politician-led coalition won’t resonate with anyone today. The initial coalition back in 2015 catered primarily to political interests and neglected ordinary citizens, leaving them worse off than before. Currently, what Nigerians seek isn’t just more politicking; instead, they desire a well-defined ideological alignment they can relate to, alongside transparent competitive guidelines executed promptly. My assurance is that as long as our aim remains centered on serving Nigeria’s population wholeheartedly, we’ll earn their trust. Consequently, we intend to ensure President Tinubu serves merely a single term.
What do you think about the leadership changes at the NNPCL?
It falls under the presidential authority since the president also holds the position of Minister of Petroleum. Regardless, as the CEO of Nigeria, this role gives him significant influence over such matters. Given that he is both President and Minister of Petroleum, it indicates he aims to reshape his cabinet to better accomplish his goals. Actually, I anticipated this move sooner due to Mr. Mele Kyari having served through the tenures of three different presidents.
Regarding the downstream operations, I believe they have performed rather well, particularly with regard to the pipelines such as the natural gas pipeline known as AKK. They seem to excel in this area of the business. However, I suspect that the President intends to shift focus towards the upstream segment. This decision might be influenced by the track record of the newly appointed NNPCL CEO, Bayo Ojulari. It appears that they may now aim for success in the upstream sector.
However, it doesn't imply that altering the composition of this board couldn't have been executed more effectively. Had I held the presidency, I would've requested those serving on the board to step down instead of simply dismissing them, particularly considering they had their terms renewed quite recently. It remains unclear what he observed, but based on my observations of their external achievements over the past three years, I believed asking for their resignation would have been more dignified than firing them outright.
Do you think the newly appointed CEO of NNPCL is a superior choice and a terrific decision made by the president?
In my view, Ojulari is a competent professional whom I hold in high regard; however, they aren’t alone—let’s say there are several dozen like him at least. It isn't about having an engineering degree versus a marketing background that sets someone apart. Instead, it hinges on their ability to build rapport with the CEO. This connection should almost operate independently since the president comes from a political sphere. His goals are inherently political, and he manages a government-run entity where budget constraints often mean little due to state resources being readily available. On the contrary, for a privately oriented NNPC, fiscal discipline, adherence to market principles, and valuing input from experts over political opinions become crucial. Decisions must prioritize long-term shareholder value—even when those stakeholders include Nigerian citizens. Consequently, this situation could lead to ideological clashes between the administration's political aspirations and the commercial and corporate aims of the NNPCL.
President Tinubu recently instructed Ojulari to supply him with 2 million barrels per day over the next two years and 5 million barrels per day within the following five years. Could this be considered a slippery slope?
I must express that politicians issuing direct orders to a company with an established board and predefined managerial objectives does not impress me readily. This seemingly eager compliance seems primarily aimed at improving appearances politically. Decisions aren't typically made solely based on appointing a new CEO; usually, there's a broader strategy in place. From what I understand of these figures, they align closely with those set under the tenure of the prior CEO. Therefore, it appears likely that the president is simply restating information previously conveyed during briefings from the last administration or goals agreed upon earlier. He aims to communicate his expectations clearly to Mr. Ojulari. However, such directions do not seem exclusive to him but were similarly followed by the preceding leadership. Even regarding operations further down the supply chain, recent agreements with international oil companies aim to discover new reserves and reach benchmarks due to Nigeria’s financial challenges.
Looking at our budget, we aren’t hitting the OPEC quotas assigned to us. This leads me to anticipate several points. First, these goals seem quite conservative. Perhaps the president comprehends the operational and managerial capabilities of NNPCL; ideally, these objectives should be doubled at minimum. Second, their performance hinges significantly on the approach taken by the president. Should he permit them to function autonomously like business professionals, with minimal governmental interference, this reduces pressure for using the company’s profits—often referred to as the "golden goose"—to support political agendas or cover government deficits. Instead, if allowed to operate independently, enhance their supply chains, and achieve robust financial health akin to companies such as Petrobras and others in competition, then following transparent oil market practices without hidden layers used merely for political purposes could make Ojulari fortunate indeed.
Therefore, the responsibility largely falls on the president since starting with a commercially minded approach means setting clear objectives. However, when faced with pressures such as upcoming elections where funds for campaigns are needed, or demands from social programs, applying pressure on Ojulari could result in him becoming similar to Kyari—or perhaps even reverting to an older version of Kyari. Thus, both the president and the Minister of State, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, along with others overseeing Mr. Ojulari, ought to grant him some leeway so he can utilize his professional discretion to make sound choices.
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