Oba Oladipo Olaitan, the factional leader of pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afeneifere, has declared that Nigeria is currently at a crossroads, leading to worsening insecurity, increasing unemployment, abject poverty, and the rising cost of living across the country.
He made the declaration in Bauchi while delivering a goodwill message during the elective National Convention and presidential primary election of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), held on Saturday.
According to him, “Nigerians anywhere in the country can no longer sleep with their two eyes closed due to persistent banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, and communal clashes.”
He further said that the economic hardship and insecurity facing Nigerians are the direct result of poor leadership choices and anti-people policies, stressing that the country needs a change of government.
Oladipo Olaitan further declared: “Nigeria is bleeding. The nation is at a crossroads. Our people can no longer sleep with their eyes closed because of insecurity, banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, and communal clashes.”
He also added that the economic situation had become unbearable for ordinary citizens, noting that food prices had risen beyond the reach of average families while many youths remain unemployed.
The Afenifere factional leader stressed: “The suffering of Nigerians is not an act of God. It is the direct result of wrong choices and economic policies that put market forces and profit above the welfare of the people.”
He went on to accuse the Federal government of weakening opposition parties and undermining the multi-party democratic system, alleging that it was working towards a one-party state in order to force Nigerians to accept tyrannical governance.
He said: “As we are all aware, the government has broken identifiable opposition parties into factions and fragments, thereby destroying the very basis of the multi-party system. We must unite to keep democracy alive.”
Oladipo Olaitan, however, maintained that the real division in Nigeria was not ethnic or religious, but between the ruling class and ordinary citizens facing hardship, who are left to groan without any real solution in sight.
He stressed: “The contradiction is not between North and South or between religions. It is between the government and the masses of Nigeria, the people who are subjected to avoidable hardship and grinding poverty.”
He therefore called for a shift towards people-centred economic policies that would create jobs, support local industries, improve infrastructure, and ensure affordable healthcare and education.
“We must return to a people-centred economy where government actively creates jobs, supports local and cottage industries, revives railways, provides affordable education, housing, and healthcare, and protects the vulnerable,” he said.
Oladipo Olaitan described the SDP as a party founded on social justice, equity, and concern for the masses, urging delegates to elect leaders capable of restoring hope and dignity to Nigerians ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to him: “This country belongs to all of us, and together we must build a Nigeria where every citizen can live in peace and prosperity.”
He then declared support for the presidential candidate of the SDP, Prince Adewole Adebayo, saying: “This is the man who will beat Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, become the next President of Nigeria, and liberate Nigerians from the present hardship and mismanagement of resources.”
He declared: “He is the best alternative to bad governance, economic sabotage, and lack of respect for human rights and dignity. Let us rally around him to salvage Nigeria.”