The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the 2023 elections, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has raised concerns over the 2025 budget proposals presented by President Bola Tinubu to the National Assembly.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Sunday, Adebayo described the budget as self-contradictory and unrealistic, stating that the government’s expectations outlined in the budget were not attainable.
He specifically criticized the exchange rates proposed in the budget, calling them unrealistic.
Adebayo also discussed the political environment in Nigeria, arguing that the country’s problems could be solved if the political class were made up of individuals with integrity. He pointed to the Independent National Electoral Commission, suggesting that while the commission may have some shortcomings, much of the electoral challenges stem from the actions of political parties. According to Adebayo, political parties commit more violations than they accuse INEC of, including bribing delegates and manipulating party primaries.
On the issue of rotational presidency, Adebayo emphasized that while it is important to rotate the presidency for national peace, it should not just be about shifting power among the elite. He suggested that the rotation should also focus on intergenerational leadership, ensuring the transition of power from older generations to younger, more progressive leaders. He also called for a shift in ideologies, advocating for policies that prioritize Nigeria’s interests over those of international financial institutions.
Adebayo stated: “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) itself has a bit of connivance, whether for the sustainability of their appointment or whether people have discovered that they can get rich by taking advantage of the desperation of politicians.
“Most of the problems of an election don’t arise from the INEC. They arise from the political parties. More political parties commit crimes in their primaries than they accuse INEC of.
“So, whatever error the INEC commits, the politicians and political parties even commit more. People bribe delegates for elections. Party chairmen and secretaries switch names like the game of domino.
” So, the political class is guilty. I agree with the submission that politicians contribute to the problems during elections but INEC is supposed to be a professional class and should not collaborate with the politicians to rig elections.”
” If you are rotating from North to South and all of that and rotating about the same wasteful elite who have no idea, you will be rotating poverty, insecurity and others.
“But if you rotate inter generationally, that is from the old people to the young ones and ideologically from those who follow the International Monetary Fund (IMF) –World Bank, to those who have indigenous, authentic and pro-Nigeria idea, you would have some progress for the country,” he added
