The National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolaji Abdullahi, has delivered a sharp critique of President Bola Tinubu’s administration in a birthday message posted on his official X handle on Sunday, March 29.
Abdullahi’s message came in response to Tinubu’s earlier post thanking Nigerians for their birthday wishes as he marked his 74th birthday.
Rather than offering conventional felicitations, the ADC spokesman used the occasion to highlight what he described as failures of the current administration.
“As you mark another year, Nigerians reflect on a presidency whose impact is now impossible to ignore,” Abdullahi wrote.
He accused the government of overseeing a dramatic increase in fuel prices that has made daily life unbearable for ordinary citizens.
“Under your watch, fuel prices have risen by nearly 500%, turning basic transportation into a daily calculation of survival,” he said.
On security, Abdullahi pointed to Nigeria’s ranking on global indices and the continuing loss of lives across the country.
“Under your leadership, Nigeria has climbed to 4th on the Global Terrorism Index, while thousands of lives have been lost to violence, families shattered, and communities displaced. Every hour, a Nigerian is killed by insurgents,” he stated.
The ADC spokesman also criticised what he described as language that obscures accountability when addressing those responsible for violence.
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“Under your presidency, insecurity has not just persisted, it has adapted, expanded, and, at times, been met with language that blurs accountability, where those who terrorize Nigerians are referred to as ‘sons’ and ‘brothers,’ even as their victims bury loved ones,” Abdullahi wrote.
He further accused the Tinubu administration of deepening economic hardship rather than delivering on its campaign promises.
“Under your leadership, the economic strain on Nigerians has deepened, the cost of living has surged, and the ‘Renewed Hope’ that you promised has turned to hopelessness for millions of Nigerian families,” he added.
Abdullahi also raised concerns about the state of Nigeria’s democracy under the current government.
“And under your watch, the political space is narrowing, raising real concerns about the steady drift toward a one-party state, in a democracy that was fought for with blood, sweat and tears,” he said.
The ADC spokesman framed his message as an appeal for reflection, noting that the president is entering what he described as his final year in office.
“So as you celebrate your final year in office, Nigerians can only offer a prayer, that this next year brings a sudden and unfamiliar miracle: that you begin to take governance more seriously; that you finally see the loss of lives under your watch as a failure of your leadership; and that you begin, at the very least, to act with the weight and responsibility of leading the world’s most populous Black nation,” he wrote.
Abdullahi concluded with wishes, adding that, “Wishing you good health, improved judgment, and a sense of responsibility to the people you govern. Happy Birthday, Mr. President!” he said.