SDP’s Adewole Adebayo Urges Nigerians to End Episodic Governance

Prince Adewole Adebayo, former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has called for collective action to end “episodic governance” in Nigeria, warning that the nation cannot afford to keep retracing its steps.

Adebayo spoke on Tuesday during a visit to the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) headquarters in Abuja, where he was received by the forum’s Board of Trustees Chairman, Bashir Dalhatu. He emphasized that political institutions must focus on long-term planning, national unity, and service delivery.

“Northern Nigeria is the crown jewel of the Nigerian state. The journey to nationhood started in 1914, and there’s no excuse for pretending that there’s a U-turn anywhere. Nigeria is like a train; it has no reverse gear,” Adebayo said.

Highlighting the impact of abandoned development plans by successive governments, he insisted that reforms must prioritize accountability, service delivery, and inclusion for all Nigerians, regardless of religion, ethnicity, or region.

“Even something as fundamental as Nigeria’s sovereignty is now up for debate. We don’t have a common basis for unity. The killings going on in the North are tragic, yet they fail to unite us in condemnation,” he added.

Adebayo also underscored the need to prepare a new generation of patriotic Nigerians for leadership, pledging that the SDP’s political approach will “leave no one behind.”

ACF Chairman Bashir Dalhatu praised Adebayo for his commitment to national unity, describing him as one of the few politicians who look beyond regional interests. “Nigeria needs people who think in a united manner. The ACF was established to protect the interests of the North within the context of a united Nigeria. We are first and foremost Nigerians before being Northerners,” Dalhatu said.