2027: Nigerians react to bishops’ endorsement of Tinubu’s re-election bid

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has cautioned President Bola Tinubu against further aggravating the plight of Nigerians following the recent surge in petrol prices to as high as N1,470 per litre. The party highlighted that escalating fuel prices are exacerbating the hardships faced by Nigerians, as the cost of transport, food, electricity, education, and other essential needs keep rising.

In a statement released by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi on Tuesday, the ADC emphasized that the nation's economic predicament was bringing citizens to the brink of their endurance. The party criticized the President for transforming the petrol pump into a means of inflicting suffering on ordinary Nigerians.

ADC also expressed concern over the steep increase in private school fees, with some institutions raising their charges by 30 to 40 percent, while parents' incomes have not witnessed a comparable rise. The party noted that parents are grappling with the burden of mounting expenses related to food, rent, transportation, fuel, and other necessities.

Despite acknowledging that school proprietors are facing increased expenses, the ADC refrained from blaming them, attributing the fee hikes to their own rising costs. The ADC argued that families are now compelled to make tough decisions between providing sustenance for their children, paying school fees, and meeting other fundamental requirements.

The party further stated that the economic strain is affecting businesses, with some struggling to survive due to soaring operational costs. The ADC accused the Federal Government of imposing additional burdens on ordinary Nigerians while top officials continue to lead extravagant lifestyles. The party argued that economic reforms should enhance the wellbeing of citizens instead of making them poorer.

The ADC warned that the 2027 general election would provide Nigerians with the opportunity to decide whether to persist with the prevailing economic policies or back its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. The party reiterated Atiku's pledge to alleviate the fuel price through the reinstatement of subsidy to bolster local fuel production.

The ADC cautioned the Tinubu administration not to underestimate Nigerians' patience for accepting the present circumstances, asserting, "Don’t push Nigerians to their limits."