President Bola Tinubu's administration has failed to deliver on security and economic stability, according to Senator Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto South. Speaking at the African Democratic Congress (ADC) state congress in Sokoto, Mr Tambuwal accused the government of deepening poverty, insecurity and hunger nationwide. He stated that Nigerians have now seen what President Tinubu is capable of, without completing the sentence, implying a negative assessment. The senator did not provide specific data to back his claims but framed his comments around the lived experiences of ordinary citizens. His speech was delivered before ADC party delegates, positioning his critique within a political forum ahead of future elections. No response from the presidency or the All Progressives Congress was included in the report. Mr Tambuwal, a former speaker of the House of Representatives and ex-governor of Sokoto State, remains an influential opposition figure. His remarks reflect growing criticism of federal governance under President Tinubu, who took office in May 2023.
Aminu Tambuwal's blunt indictment of Bola Tinubu's presidency cuts through the usual political noise because it comes from a seasoned operator with national ambitions. By declaring that Nigerians have now seen what Tinubu can deliver — and framing it as hardship and insecurity — Tambuwal is not just criticizing policy but attempting to crystallize public frustration into political capital. His platform, the ADC, may be marginal nationally, but his voice carries weight in northwest Nigeria, where economic distress and banditry have intensified since 2023.
The context behind his statement is undeniable: inflation has remained above 30 percent since mid-2023, fuel subsidy removal has increased transportation and food costs, and armed attacks in the northwest and southeast have not abated. These are the conditions shaping voter sentiment, and Tambuwal is aligning himself with that reality. His appearance at an ADC congress signals a strategic pivot, possibly to position himself as an alternative beyond the dominant APC-PDP duopoly.
For millions of Nigerians, especially in rural Sokoto and other conflict-affected states, this rhetoric reflects daily survival. Farmers cannot till their lands due to insecurity, while rising food prices make basic meals unaffordable. This is not abstract politics — it is the erosion of livelihoods.
Tambuwal's move also fits a broader trend: established politicians leveraging public discontent through smaller parties, exposing the fragility of Nigeria's current political order.
