LAGOS, Nigeria — The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, on Sunday, June 1, 2025, issued a blistering critique of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, asserting that the president’s campaign promise of “Renewed Hope” has become a “nightmare” for millions of Nigerians.
In a joint statement signed by Afenifere Leader Oba Oladipo Olaitan and National Publicity Secretary Justice Faloye, the group accused the federal government of policy failures, fiscal waste, and centralising governance, while allegedly stifling dissent and prioritising political survival over public service.
According to Afenifere, Nigeria’s human development and socio-political indicators have all worsened since Tinubu took office in May 2023.
The statement noted that the government has resorted to “massive propaganda claiming false successes” while everyday Nigerians continue to experience economic hardship.
“The Midterm Report shows that every human development and sociopolitical index has regressed since the coming to office of the President Bola Tinubu administration, turning the promise of renewed hope to a nightmare of regressing hopelessness and despair,” the statement read.
Afenifere cited what it described as unforced policy errors, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira, which it argued were carried out without sufficient preparations to cushion the socioeconomic impact.
The group also criticised the administration’s palliative programmes and wage policies, calling them inadequate and skewed towards a privileged few.
“Despite the Tinubu administration’s economic policies causing huge inflation that cut real wages in over half, only 4.1% of the Nigerian population in the civil service had their wages increased by 38%,” Afenifere claimed, adding that relief packages were “corruptly split among those connected.”
It further alleged that large-scale contracts and projects were being awarded to individuals with close ties to the presidency, while basic economic relief for the wider population remained elusive.
The group expressed disappointment that, two years into its tenure, the administration has yet to implement the Oronsaye Report—a government review designed to reduce the cost of governance.
Instead, Afenifere accused the government of expanding spending and fuelling a culture of extravagance.
“The government’s first supplementary budget and subsequent budgets were spent on not only preserving but increasing the luxurious lifestyle of those in government,” the statement said, pointing to expenditures on a new presidential jet, luxury cars for legislators, and opaque constituency projects.
Afenifere also raised alarm over what it called “destructuring” rather than “restructuring” of Nigeria’s federal system.
The organisation criticised the federal government’s moves to assume control of local governments, limit the powers of states, and erode democratic checks and balances.
“It has shown increasingly centralising tendencies to further weaken the federalist elements in the constitution… Tinubu is destructuring the pillars of our democracy by neutralising the legislature and judiciary put in place for balance of power,” the group stated.
The organisation alleged growing intolerance for dissent, with peaceful protesters and labour unions reportedly facing harassment and suppression.
“In recent times, we have seen a gale of opposition politicians decamp to the ruling party to prevent institutional victimisation,” the statement continued, citing alleged political interference in opposition parties and concerns over partisan appointments to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Despite its critical tone, Afenifere concluded its statement with a call for reflection and reform.
“If this Midterm Report was an academic exercise, the student will receive an advice to withdraw from the examiner,” the statement read.
“But we believe there is still room for redemption.”
“We urge the President and his choir of mandate seekers to reflect and for a change, just love Nigeria and Nigerians,” Afenifere said.
As of the time of this report, there has been no official response from the presidency to Afenifere’s statement.
