The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has issued a strong call to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to step out of the Presidential Villa and engage directly with ordinary Nigerians to understand the true extent of the country’s socio-economic challenges. The party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made the remarks during a televised interview on Channels Television on Wednesday, July 31, 2025.
Abdullahi expressed concern that President Tinubu may be insulated from the realities facing millions of Nigerians due to misinformation from state governors and presidential aides. He urged the president to move beyond the confines of Aso Rock and experience firsthand the conditions many citizens are enduring across the country.
According to Abdullahi, relying solely on filtered reports and briefings from government officials could lead to a distorted understanding of national issues, especially regarding economic hardship and security concerns. He criticized the narrative that insecurity has been significantly reduced, saying such claims do not reflect the actual experiences of the people on the ground.
“I actually think President Tinubu needs to leave the Villa and go on the streets and talk to people,” Abdullahi said during the interview. “He should stop listening to this kind of narrative [that insecurity has been degraded] and stop listening to state governors who are just saying what they think they need to say to endear themselves to power rather than tell him the true feelings of the people.”
The ADC spokesman added that the President may be surrounded by individuals who are more concerned with preserving their positions than providing honest feedback. He emphasized that without a direct line to the public’s sentiment, Tinubu could remain detached from the struggles faced by ordinary Nigerians, especially in the areas of rising inflation, unemployment, and persistent insecurity.
Abdullahi went further to say, “I feel sorry for President Tinubu because if this is the kind of narrative that he gets to hear all the time, then it is natural and obvious that he lives in a bubble.”
His comments come amid growing national discontent over rising food prices, prolonged fuel scarcity in some regions, and an upsurge in violent crimes, including kidnappings and banditry in parts of the country. Many Nigerians have continued to express frustration over what they see as a lack of meaningful government response to their daily struggles.
Critics argue that the government has failed to adequately address the cost-of-living crisis that has worsened since the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of exchange rates. While the administration has launched various palliative measures, including conditional cash transfers and food distribution programs, these efforts have been criticized as insufficient and poorly implemented.
The ADC’s message is part of a broader call by opposition parties and civil society groups for greater transparency, responsiveness, and public engagement from the federal government. They argue that for any real progress to occur, leaders must go beyond policy announcements and high-level meetings and instead connect directly with the people affected by those policies.
Abdullahi’s remarks reflect a growing sense of urgency among political stakeholders who believe the President risks becoming increasingly isolated from the realities of governance. As Nigeria continues to grapple with complex socio-economic issues, the ADC insists that genuine interaction with citizens should form a central part of the President’s approach.
The presidency has not issued any official response to the comments as of the time of this report.
