Democracy Day: Tinubu Has Failed Nigerians, ADC Laments

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of failing to improve the lives of Nigerians.

The party declared that worsening insecurity, economic hardship and declining public trust have undermined the gains of democracy.

In an open letter to Nigerians to mark Democracy Day, the party said June 12 should not only be a celebration of the nation’s democratic journey but also a moment for sober reflection on the state of the country.

The lengthy statement, issued on Thursday night and signed by the ADC spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, bemoaned the state of the nation and the appealing living condition of the majority of Nigerians.

“Democracy is not measured by the number of years since military rule ended. It must be measured by the meaning it has brought to citizenship and the freedoms it has brought to citizens – freedom from fear, freedom from poverty, freedom to participate and freedom to choose.”

The party argued that democracy should be assessed by whether citizens are safer, more prosperous and able to trust public institutions.

“Twenty-seven years after the return to democratic rule, and three years into the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC, we ask you these simple questions: Is your life better today than in the past? Do you feel safer today than you felt in the past? Do you trust the government more than before?

“The answer to these questions is no doubt painfully clear: a resounding no,” the statement said.

The opposition party painted a grim picture of the nation’s security situation, saying, “In Nigeria, life has assumed a Hobbesian reality: nasty, brutish and short.”

It lamented that “every single day, Nigerians are killed in their dozens and kidnapped in their hundreds,” while bandits and criminal groups continue to dictate terms to communities.

“The most important job of a government is to protect the citizens. But is there any one of you today who believes that this government can protect anybody?” the party asked, adding that “government is getting weaker; criminals are getting stronger.”

The party also highlighted the severe cost-of-living crisis, noting that rising prices of food, transportation, housing, healthcare and education have pushed basic necessities beyond the reach of millions.

It said workers are seeing their incomes eroded, small businesses are struggling to survive, and many families are forced to choose between feeding their households and paying school fees.

The ADC further expressed concern about the future of young Nigerians, stating that many are unable to secure meaningful employment while others are increasingly seeking opportunities abroad.

According to the party, “a generation that should be building Nigeria is increasingly searching for opportunities elsewhere.”

The statement warned that public confidence in democratic institutions is waning as many citizens question whether government is responsive to their needs.

“These are not opposition talking points. They are the concerns of a nation that is demanding not excuses, but answers; not propaganda, but performance; not promises, but progress,” it said.

Rejecting suggestions that current hardships are unavoidable, the ADC argued that insecurity, poverty and weak institutions are products of poor governance.

“We believe that all the afflictions that we face as a people are direct manifestations of the affliction that the ruling party (APC) represents. Insecurity reflects their incompetence and indifference.

“Growing poverty reflects their wrong-headed economic policy that celebrates statistics but remains indifferent to human suffering. Weak institutions reflect their brazen lack of accountability and wanton disrespect for the rule of law.”

The party accused the government of offering little more than reassurances while citizens endure hardship.