Graft and dishonesty are driving instability and economic hardship in Nigeria, says SDP's presidential hopeful

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The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Adewole Adebayo, has blamed corruption for Nigeria’s lingering economic and security challenges, saying the country will struggle to overcome insecurity and poverty without transparency, accountability and integrity in public service.

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Adebayo stated this on Wednesday at the Arewa Awareness Summit on Unity Against Insecurity held in Kaduna State, where he urged political leaders to embrace responsible governance and practical solutions to the country’s socio-economic and security challenges.

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His position was contained in a statement made available to journalists by his media aide, Ade Alabi.

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According to him, Nigeria’s challenges are not insurmountable if leaders demonstrate the political will to govern effectively.

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He said, “I have discovered that there is no problem that we have in Nigeria that good governance and leadership will not resolve in three years.

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“Corruption remains one of the greatest obstacles to Nigeria’s progress. No policy or institutional reform will succeed unless it is anchored on transparency, accountability and integrity in public service.”

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He also said Northern Nigeria has the human and natural resources needed to drive economic growth, insisting that the region’s growing population should be regarded as an asset rather than a burden.

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“The North has the people, the land and the resources to prosper. What is needed is leadership that can harness these enormous potentials for the benefit of the people,” Adebayo said.

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He urged leaders and stakeholders to move beyond discussions about the causes of insecurity and focus on implementing practical and lasting solutions.

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Adebayo also called for increased investment in agriculture, describing the sector as a critical driver of employment, food security and wealth creation across Northern Nigeria.

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Speaking on education, the SDP candidate expressed concern over the high number of out-of-school children in the North, warning that sustainable development would remain difficult without greater investment in quality education.

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“We cannot build a prosperous nation while millions of children remain out of school. Education is the foundation of security, productivity and national development,” he said.

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The Arewa Awareness Summit brought together traditional rulers, academics, political leaders, professionals and other stakeholders to deliberate on strategies for promoting unity and tackling insecurity across Northern Nigeria.

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