By Kogi News Tribune | July, 2025
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration over its recent push for food sector reforms, alleging that the move is not rooted in genuine concern for Nigerians but driven by political fear ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement released on Sunday, the party accused the government of exhibiting what it described as “calculated incompetence” and claimed the sudden interest in addressing food insecurity was prompted by the rising credibility and momentum of the newly formed opposition coalition.
Reacting to remarks made by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, regarding the federal government’s intention to eliminate bottlenecks affecting food availability and exports, the ADC dismissed the announcement as reactionary and lacking sincerity.
According to the party’s interim National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the administration’s delayed response to Nigeria’s food crisis only materialized after the unveiling of the ADC-led coalition, which aims to present a formidable alternative to the current government in 2027.
“Had it not been for the growing pressure and national attention generated by the successful unveiling of our opposition coalition, this government would have continued its calculated indifference to the suffering of the Nigerian people,” Abdullahi said.
The ADC further argued that President Tinubu’s food reform efforts were politically motivated and not policy-driven, emphasizing that the welfare of citizens should not be an afterthought in governance.
The opposition party’s remarks come amid growing public concern over food prices and inflation, which have significantly impacted living standards across the country.
As the political atmosphere begins to heat up ahead of the 2027 elections, analysts say more scrutiny is expected on the policies and motivations of the current administration.
Directly challenging the recent disclosure by Mr Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, that government plans to remove bottlenecks to food security and export, the ADC, through its spokesperson and interim national publicity secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, wondered why it has taken the emergence of the coalition to make the Tinubu government start thinking of how to make food available to Nigerian people.
He noted that without the pressure mounted on the government with the successful unveiling of the opposition coalition last week, the government would have persisted in its calculated indifference to the plight of the Nigerian people.
