Former presidential candidate Dele Momodu has accused President Bola Tinubu of being responsible for the widespread issues currently affecting Nigerians, which have led to a planned nationwide protest.
In an open letter posted on X, Momodu expressed concern about the hardships faced by ordinary Nigerians and suggested that President Tinubu’s governance approach has shifted negatively.
Momodu criticized Tinubu for failing to grasp the complexities of running a country compared to managing a state, stating, “Since you achieved your long-held ambition of becoming President, conditions for Nigerians—except for a select few—have worsened. Frankly, you are to blame for this situation.”
He lamented that Tinubu, who once fought for democratic rights, is now restricting public demonstrations, a right that Momodu and Tinubu both valued during military regimes.
While Momodu is opposed to anarchy, he advocates for managing potential threats without curtailing democratic freedoms. Drawing on his experience with peace initiatives in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and The Gambia, he believes threats can be managed without resorting to authoritarian measures.
Momodu advised Tinubu to seek counsel from civil liberties experts and to assess the effectiveness of Nigeria’s security agencies.
He urged the president to disregard the advice of hardliners within his team, stating, “Return to your original allies in civil liberties for guidance and use this moment to test the capabilities of our security forces. Ignore the hawks around you, as they are primarily beneficiaries of the struggles of others.”
