Group knocks ADC spokesperson Over Tinubu mandate remarks

By Abubakar Yunusa

The Grassroots Mobilisation Initiative (GMI) has berated Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi over his recent comments on President Bola Tinubu’s tenure.

Abdullahi, who parades himself as the National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), had declared that Tinubu’s administration must end in 2027 and should not be extended by “a single day.”

But the GMI described his remarks as misleading, presumptuous and detached from the realities on the ground.

In a statement by its National Coordinator, Samaila Musa, the group said Abdullahi’s position misrepresented governance under Tinubu and ignored the sentiment of ordinary Nigerians.

Musa said: “Firstly, Abdullahi’s claim that Nigerians would not wish to extend President Tinubu’s tenure by even a single day is both presumptuous and misleading. The reality on the ground is far more nuanced.”

According to him, while Nigeria faces insecurity, banditry and economic hardship, the Tinubu government is actively tackling the challenges.

He insisted that the administration had taken decisive steps to strengthen national security, dismantle criminal networks and introduce economic reforms designed to ease hardship.

The GMI maintained that Abdullahi’s comments oversimplified governance and ignored the “palpable shift towards recovery” in different parts of the country.

Musa added: “Abdullahi’s failure to acknowledge ongoing reforms shows a troubling detachment from the realities faced by Nigerians. His rhetoric seeks to score cheap political points rather than contribute to solutions.”

He argued that the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians were compounded by global downturns and the COVID-19 pandemic, stressing that Tinubu’s reforms required time and patience.

The group also questioned Abdullahi’s standing within the ADC, describing his role as “self-appointed” and unrepresentative of the party’s broader membership.

“The GMI asserts that Abdullahi’s remarks reflect personal ambition and opportunism rather than the collective will of the people,” Musa said.

The organisation urged opposition figures to contribute responsibly to national discourse by offering solutions rather than “mere criticism.”

Reaffirming its support for the Renewed Hope Agenda, the GMI pledged to continue mobilising for policies that would benefit Nigerians.

“The President’s mandate must be respected, and debates about his tenure should reflect the realities of governance and the aspirations of Nigerians,” it declared.