The 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has cautioned Nigerians against any attempt to justify a military takeover, stressing that no good has ever come — or will ever come — from military rule.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Adebayo addressed reports of a purported coup plot and the growing dissatisfaction with governance, emphasizing that despite the failings of the current administration, military intervention remains an unacceptable path.
“Democracy is fragile,” he said. “Even when elections are not free or fair, democracy is still fragile everywhere in the world. The best safeguard against coups or breakdown of order is good governance. We must protect this civilian system, because once it collapses, everyone — even those in power — becomes unsafe.”
Adebayo, a vocal critic of President Bola Tinubu’s government, maintained that while the administration has performed poorly, replacing democracy with dictatorship would only worsen the nation’s woes.
“I’m one of the harshest critics of this government’s failures, but there’s absolutely no justification for military rule,” he insisted. “Nothing good can come from the military; it is not an option for us.”
Taking aim at the President’s economic policies, Adebayo described Tinubu as “a clever tax collector,” adding humorously, “If we’re not careful, he might soon impose a tax on the air we breathe.”
He argued that the government should prioritize good governance, accountability, and economic relief for citizens rather than imposing more taxes and hardship.
“Civilian rule must be defended and strengthened through genuine reforms,” Adebayo concluded. “Those in power must remember that neglecting the people breeds instability — but the solution is reform, not rebellion.”
