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Prince Adewale Adebayo, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate for the 2023 presidential election, has urged Nigerians to refrain from re-electing veteran politicians if they hope to see progress in the nation.
During an appearance on Arise TV PrimeTime, Adebayo concurred with Senator Abba Moro, asserting that Nigeria's challenges stem from the elite, including politicians.
He emphasized that the initial step towards addressing these issues is to introduce fresh politicians and abandon the habit of re-electing established figures.
Adebayo compared old politicians to leopards, stating, "If you dislike spots, you shouldn't bring leopards, as they cannot change their spots."
He advocated for openness to new ideas and politicians, cautioning against a conservative mindset that seeks to preserve past accomplishments. Adebayo noted that a country burdened by a 70 percent poverty rate, lacking infrastructure and functioning institutions, cannot afford to be conservative.
He insisted that Nigeria needs fresh ideas and leadership to rejuvenate.
He critiqued the prevailing attitudes in politics, asserting that many politicians are more interested in securing government positions than enacting meaningful changes within the government.
He pointed out that politicians constitute less than two percent of Nigeria's population, suggesting that the focus should be on the aspirations of the remaining 98 percent.
Adebayo echoed comments from former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, who described the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership as a failed and directionless administration that has deepened Nigeria's socioeconomic struggles.
However, Adebayo remarked that El-Rufai was not presenting anything new, merely repeating sentiments he had expressed earlier since 2022.
Welcoming El-Rufai to the ranks of those acknowledging the damage caused by the APC, Adebayo humorously stated that he wouldn't pursue plagiarism but rather welcomed him to the understanding of the APC's failings.
Adebayo asserted that the way out of Nigeria's economic turmoil under the APC is to change the government, similar to the shift away from the People's Democratic Party (PDP) when it hindered the economy.
He said the outcomes observed under the APC over the past decade mirror the unsatisfactory results from the PDP's 16 years in power, warning that merely changing political parties without altering the underlying tendencies would be superficial.
