National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolaji Abdullahi, has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of abandoning governance for politics and inflicting avoidable hardship on Nigerians through what he described as a poorly conceived subsidy removal policy. Abdullahi argued that no serious economy operates without some form of social support for citizens and accused the ruling party of behaving more like an opposition platform than a government in power. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, he defended the ADC’s credentials as the country’s emerging political alternative. David Lawani presents the excerpts
What significance does the court ruling in the Leke Abejide case hold for the Senator David Mark-led ADC leadership?
Well, you’re right. It is a victory, and one we welcome. We appear to be spending more time in court than we should, especially this close to an election. So any victory that removes a distraction is welcome. What makes the Leke Abejide case particularly important is that it is anchored on the principle we have consistently maintained: that the issue of leadership in a political party is entirely an internal affair of that party, as established by Nigerian courts. We are glad that the court has reaffirmed this principle. Therefore, we believe that any subsequent case challenging the legitimacy of the David Mark-led executive will be viewed through the same prism as Justice Lehman’s ruling. So, we are delighted. As I said, it is one major step forward.
Your party says it represents a new era of political participation and a credible alternative to the APC and PDP. Why should Nigerians trust a party that has been embroiled in leadership disputes and legal battles?
I think we have moved beyond that stage, and I think you should be careful not to be accused of blaming the victim here. The litigation and court cases did not arise from our inability to resolve internal disputes. That is not what happened.
Some critics argue that the coalition failed to do adequate due diligence before adopting the ADC platform. How do you respond?
No, that is not true. As I have repeatedly maintained, when we joined the ADC as a coalition platform, the party had no cases in court. The only case it had had had already been resolved through alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. So we did our due diligence, and that was exactly why we chose the African Democratic Congress, because we saw it as the most viable vehicle for the coalition we were trying to build. All the litigations and court cases you see today are later-day afflictions deliberately placed in our path by the ruling party to create confusion and raise doubts such as those you are expressing. People would naturally begin to ask themselves: “Is this platform viable? Will it support my ambition?” But despite all that, the ADC has emerged as the most formidable opposition political party in Nigeria.
Some leaders in your party have previously expressed concern about the possibility of getting justice from the courts in politically sensitive cases. Does that concern remain?
Absolutely.
What assurances can you give Nigerians who have joined or intend to support the ADC ahead of 2027 that these legal battles will not derail the party?
One thing we have consistently maintained is that every single case involving the ADC was deliberately orchestrated by those who would rather Nigerians did not have a genuine political choice.
Are you directly accusing figures such as Abejide, Kachikwu and others of acting on behalf of external interests?
At a point, challenging the leadership of the ADC became a very lucrative venture for many people. You will recall the video in which the President’s Chief of Staff was allegedly heard encouraging Abejide to continue creating problems for the party. What further confirmation do we need?
Some would argue that if the roles were reversed, your party might also exploit divisions within the opposition. What would you say to that?
This goes beyond politics. We must ask ourselves whether we genuinely believe in democracy. Democracy, by definition, is about the right of citizens to choose their leaders. Anything that abridges that choice or narrows the democratic space undermines democracy itself. Our politics has become so cynical that many people now see political manipulation as a legitimate strategy. Meanwhile, the country is sinking under this government’s watch. Millions of Nigerians are facing hunger. That is not opposition propaganda; it is the finding of international organisations that monitor global hunger. Yet I have not heard the President say much about it, nor have I heard many of the people you mentioned. The essence of democracy is to improve citizens’ lives, and that is precisely where this government has failed. As far as they are concerned, their greatest concern appears to be the 2027 election, not insecurity, kidnappings, hunger, or the rising cost of living. That is why they often sound as though they are in opposition, despite being the party in power. We are not distracted. We know what we want to achieve, and every member of the African Democratic Congress is convinced that this is the alternative Nigeria has been waiting for.
You were once a member of the APC yourself. Doesn’t that weaken your criticism of the ruling party today?
One of whom?
You were part of the APC establishment and closely associated with some of its leading figures, were you not?
No, no, no. I was never an “Asiwaju man.” I was a member of the APC.
You were aligned with the Saraki tendency within the APC and helped shape some of the party’s ideas and policy direction. Does that not make you part of the same political establishment you now criticise?
I was.
Are you saying now that you have seen the light and become politically reborn?
It is not about being born again. In 2014 and 2015, when we campaigned on the message of change, we genuinely believed in it. Anyone who was part of that process knows that we worked tirelessly to articulate what that change would mean in practical terms. Everything that was promised was planned for.
Were those promises and ideas genuine at the time?
Absolutely. The agenda was anchored on three things: job creation, security and the economy. Those were the three pillars. We developed frameworks and medium-term expenditure plans for each of them, including projections on costs and implementation.
That included the promise of creating 10 million jobs in 10 years — one million jobs annually?
Absolutely. You remember that very well.
Yet what followed was rising unemployment and economic decline. What happened?
What happened was that the moment the government came into office, one of the first casualties was the very programme we had designed as members of the Buhari campaign team.
So are you saying the change agenda eventually became an illusion?
It turned out to be a phantom because many years later, very little of what was originally designed and promised was implemented. I can continue with the subsidy, governance, apology, and 2027 election sections in the same newspaper-ready interview format.
You argued that Nigeria once had ambitious and implementable development plans. At what point do you think the country lost its way?
The point I am making is that we have not always been like this as a country. At the time the Third National Development Plan was being unveiled, government officials were also rendering an account of what had been achieved under the Second National Development Plan.
Projects such as the Ajaokuta Steel Complex, Delta Steel Aladja, and even the Badagry-Sokoto Highway were conceived during that period. Some of the projects being presented today as new ideas actually originated decades ago. What I am saying is that it has not always been this way. At some point, we lost our direction. At that time, the economy was projected to grow at between 13 and 15 per cent annually. The Asian Tigers were growing at between eight and 10 per cent and were regarded as economic miracles. Nigeria was lending money to the World Bank and even to the United Kingdom government. That was the kind of country we once had.
Are you referring to the oil boom era?
Do you understand the point I am making?
So you believe Nigeria’s decline began shortly after the oil boom years?
Now we hear about the Renewed Hope Agenda. I challenge anyone in this government who speaks about Renewed Hope to explain exactly what it means. What is the substance? What are the principles? What is the policy framework behind it? To me, it is merely a slogan. They wake up each day looking for headlines, and Nigerians, because we love headlines, often do not move beyond them. But what exactly does the Renewed Hope Agenda stand for? The last truly comprehensive national framework we had was Vision 2020. With the benefit of hindsight, one could argue that if President Yar’Adua had lived longer, the country might have made greater progress under that framework, as it contained substance and measurable pillars. Today, if you ask what the Renewed Hope Agenda really means, I doubt many can provide a clear answer.
Some Nigerians argue that many of those now leading the ADC were also involved in running Nigeria during periods of decline. Why should Nigerians trust them as agents of change?
That is a fair question. One thing I want to make clear is that the coalition that eventually led to the ADC emerged from the recognition that Nigeria’s current problems are partly the result of the kind of politics we have practised over the years. We also recognised that Nigeria cannot escape this situation unless we embrace a different kind of politics. It was that desire to practise a different kind of politics that gave birth to the coalition and eventually led us to the ADC platform.
Do you think members of Nigeria’s political class owe Nigerians an apology for the country’s current state?
You can gather whoever you want and ask them to apologise if that is what you believe is necessary.
Given your own journey from journalism to public office, can politicians who have occupied positions of authority completely absolve themselves of responsibility for Nigeria’s challenges?
I disagree with that position. In every public office I have occupied, I have given it my very best. Go and check the records. Whether as Commissioner for Education in Kwara State, where our reforms remain reference points today, or as Minister of Youth Development and Minister of Sports, I served with commitment and integrity. The values that guided me came from quality education and a belief that politics exists for one purpose: to serve the people. I left the office many years ago. Go and check the records. Nobody can point to corruption or misconduct involving me. But the larger point is this: the problems confronting Nigeria today can only be solved if we embrace a new way of thinking and a new approach to politics. If some people want apologies, that is their right. But if all we do is keep looking backwards, including digging up old graves and conducting political trials in absentia, how does that solve the problems Nigerians face today?
Many Nigerians believe that those seeking to replace the current government must first explain why they should be trusted. Is that not a legitimate expectation?
I think you are making a fundamental mistake. The question you should be asking me, as spokesman of the ADC, is this: what are you going to do differently? How will the ADC govern differently? That is the conversation we should be having.
You describe the ADC as the alternative. But many of your leaders were once members of previous administrations and political parties. Why should Nigerians believe this time will be different?
You are still asking the wrong question. I am not denying that many people in the ADC have served in previous governments. The more important question is: what are we proposing to do differently? That is where the conversation should be focused.
So what makes the ADC different from the existing political parties?
We are building a political party based on a different philosophy of governance. We recognise that politics has failed ordinary Nigerians over the last 30 to 40 years and that we must embrace a new approach. That is why we have introduced ethical principles that guide the conduct of every ADC official. We also have a new constitution and a new framework for political engagement. We understand why Nigerians may look at us and say, “These are the same politicians.” But what is the alternative? Do we import politicians from Ghana? Do we abandon democracy altogether? The reality is that Nigerian politics will continue to be run by Nigerians. The important question is whether we believe it is still possible for politics to produce positive outcomes. If all we choose to do is remain cynical and insist that everyone connected to the past is permanently disqualified, then we will never move forward. We are saying that 2027 presents a new opportunity. How do we use that opportunity to improve the lives of Nigerians? Those in power today are receiving unprecedented revenues and resources. What are they doing with them? If your objective is merely to conduct an inquest into the past, that is your right. But the urgent issue before Nigerians today is that the country is being run into the ground. We have all been embarrassed by recent scandals involving phantom agencies and questionable expenditures. These are the issues that deserve our immediate attention. Instead of focusing solely on events that occurred decades ago, we should be discussing how to solve today’s problems. That is the point I am making.
You seem uncomfortable with these questions about accountability and the past. Why is that?
I am not uncomfortable at all. I believe you are asking the wrong questions. If your concern is whether the current government has failed and whether the ADC can provide an alternative, then let us discuss that. Those are the issues that matter most to Nigerians today.
Many Nigerians have suffered from poor healthcare, poor infrastructure and failed public services over the years. They say they have heard these promises before. Why should they believe the ADC now?
The message is very simple. What you are demanding is an inquest into the past and a collective confession from the political class. Those who believe they owe Nigerians an apology are free to offer one. Personally, I do not believe I have anything to apologise for. But more importantly, the question before us is not who to blame for every mistake made over the last 50 years. The real question is how we solve the problems confronting Nigerians today. That is what the ADC is focused on.
Do politicians in Nigeria owe citizens an apology for the failures of governance over the years?
Those who have something to apologise for should apologise. Personally, I do not believe I have anything to apologise for. And I do not think we should make this discussion about me. The important point is that Nigeria is currently being run aground, and the ADC represents an alternative. The question should therefore be: what does the ADC intend to do differently? That is the conversation I believe Nigerians deserve.
