The African Democratic Congress has delivered an assessment of the state of the nation, declaring that democracy has failed to improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians in the government of President Bola Tinubu.
In an open letter issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi to Nigerians to mark Democracy Day, the opposition party said the true test of democracy is not the number of years since military rule ended but the impact it has on the lives of citizens.
The party challenged Nigerians to assess the current state of the country by asking whether they are safer, more prosperous and more confident in government than they were in the past.
“Twenty-seven years after the return to democratic rule, and three years into the administration of President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress, 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 party asked.
“The answer to these questions is no doubt painfully clear: a resounding no,” it added.
The opposition party accused the APC-led government of presiding over worsening insecurity, economic hardship and declining public trust in democratic institutions.
According to the ADC, insecurity has reached alarming levels across the country, with citizens increasingly exposed to violence, kidnappings and criminality.
“Every single day, Nigerians are killed in their dozens and kidnapped in their hundreds. Bandits and other criminal elements openly negotiate for ransoms and set the terms of co-existence,” the party said.
“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 opposition party argued that the inability of government to guarantee security has led to the displacement of communities, disruption of education and growing fear among citizens.
“Government is getting weaker; criminals are getting stronger,” it added.
The ADC also painted a bleak picture of the economy, saying millions of Nigerians are struggling under a severe cost-of-living crisis driven by rising prices of food, transportation, housing, healthcare and education.
“Workers watch their incomes lose value. Small businesses struggle to survive. Parents make impossible choices between feeding their families, paying school fees, and meeting basic household needs,” the statement further read.
It also lamented the plight of young Nigerians, saying many have been left without meaningful employment opportunities while others are increasingly seeking opportunities abroad.
“Our young people, who should be the engine of national renewal and economic growth, increasingly confront a future defined by uncertainty. Many cannot find meaningful employment. Many others no longer see a future for themselves within our borders,” Abdullahi added.
The party said the challenges confronting the country are not unavoidable, insisting they are the direct consequences of poor leadership and ineffective policies.
“We believe that all the afflictions that we face as a people are direct manifestations of the affliction that the ruling party represents. Insecurity reflects their incompetence and indifference. Growing poverty reflects their wrong-headed economic policy that celebrates statistics but remains indifferent to human suffering,” it noted.
The ADC accused the government of asking Nigerians to endure hardship while failing to provide practical solutions to the country’s pressing challenges.
“This APC government has no solution to insecurity. All they have is condolence messages and empty threats to bandits and criminals. They have no solution to the cost of living crisis that is taking away your dignity. All they have is propaganda and more promises of a better life in the future,” Abdullahi stressed.
Presenting what it described as an alternative vision for the country, the party said security must become intelligence-led, technology-driven and community-based, while economic policies should be focused on reducing hardship and improving the welfare of citizens.
The ADC said security spending should be judged by outcomes rather than budgetary allocations.
“Most importantly, we believe that security spending must be judged not by how much money is appropriated, but by whether citizens are safer. The measure of success is not the size of a budget. The measure of success is whether a farmer can return safely to his farm,” the ADC said.
On the economy, the it pledged to pursue policies aimed at reducing the cost of energy, supporting small businesses, protecting low-income earners and lowering food prices through improved agricultural productivity and food security measures.
The opposition party also promised reforms to strengthen transparency, accountability and public confidence in democratic institutions.
“We believe that government should once again be judged by results. Not by headlines. Not by speeches. Not by excuses. But by whether Nigerians are safer. Whether Nigerians are more prosperous. And whether Nigerians can once again believe that their country is moving in the right direction,” it added
The ADC maintained that the best way to honour the sacrifices of the June 12 democratic struggle is through honest reflection on the state of the nation and a commitment to building a democracy that delivers security, prosperity and opportunity for all Nigerians.