Head of Programs at the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development, Bola Abimbola, has warned that rising insecurity and the worsening cost of living remain the biggest threats to President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking on Inside Scoop, a current affairs programme on Adamimogo 105.1FM Ibadan on Monday, September 8, Abimbola said that while the government has taken bold economic decisions applauded globally, the impact on ordinary Nigerians has been devastating.
“On paper, the policies of President Tinubu are commendable. Globally, he is being praised. But when you put it side by side with the daily reality of Nigerians, there is a deep gap,” he noted.
According to Abimbola, millions of households now struggle to meet basic needs such as food, clothing, and school fees, making it difficult for citizens to connect with the government’s message of long-term benefits.
He also faulted the government’s communication strategy, describing it as uncoordinated and elitist. “Government has been speaking, but not strategically. You cannot use one brush to paint everyone. Communication must be disaggregated to speak directly to those bearing the brunt of hardship,” he argued.
While acknowledging the professionalism of the current Minister of Information, Abimbola said the President’s core communications team often comes across as political rather than people-focused. He urged officials like Sunday Dare to play a more prominent role in public engagement, emphasizing issue-based communication over rhetoric.
On Nigeria’s 25 years of democracy, the analyst said the biggest beneficiaries have been politicians, while citizens remain the losers. He lamented that despite the country’s vast earnings over the years, little progress has been made in improving lives.
“Citizens are getting poorer every day. Brain drain is worsening. The best among us are leaving, and the system is unable to retain talent,” he said.
Abimbola stressed that reforms in the electoral process, stronger political parties, and genuine local government autonomy are critical to bridging the gap between government and the people.
“You cannot talk of democracy when citizens are not sure their votes will count. The process of leadership recruitment in our parties is a complete joke. Until these issues are fixed, the gulf between government promises and citizens’ reality will remain wide,” he concluded.
