2027: SDP’s Adebayo pledges accountability, people-driven governance, if elected president

...Nigeria needs people like you who think in a united manner, ACF tells Adebayo
…Says his desire for nation-building well known

By Chris Ochayi

The 2023 presidential candidate of Social Democratic Party, SDP, Prince Adewale Adebayo has pledged to form a government comprising of young patriots to enthrone inclusive leadership, accountability, and people-driven governance, if elected president come 2027.

Prince Adebayo, who made the vow during his visit to the leadership of Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, where he presented his development agenda on Tuesday in Abuja, said he will give Nigerians the government that is incorruptible and that which provides services.

Meanwhile, the Arewa consultative Forum, has invited Prince Adewale Adebayo to observe its Silver Jubilee celebrations scheduled for Thursday, 20th to Saturday, 22nd November 2025, at the Murtala Muhammed Square, Kaduna State.

The Chairman Board of Trustees, BoT,
Alhaji Bashir Mohammed Dalhatu (Waziri Dutse), personally invited Prince Adebayo to witness the milestone event marking 25 years of the ACF’s dedication to unity, peace, and development across Northern Nigeria.

Speaking further, Prince Adebayo noted that the current APC administration led by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has failed in security, transparency, accountability, inclusiveness, and business, adding, “We must speak out so that, even if we take over in 2027, lives and opportunities are protected.”

According to him, “The third point is the new generation. We didn’t have to be present in Lancaster House during independence negotiations or in 1977.

“We didn’t have to be part of military governments, but we love this country too. Young patriots are here, capable of understanding how to hold the country together. I assure you, the politics we will do will leave no one behind; it won’t be based on origin but on accountability.

“We will give a government that is incorruptible, one that provides services. Ministers will be accountable. Northern Nigeria, in the past, ran services efficiently—roads, posts, hospitals. We can render services again. Nigeria is pan-Nigerian; our alliance is to Nigeria first. We will consult with leaders, learn from their experiences, and call upon you to speak out.

“When we speak against the government, it’s not partisan. Non-partisan voices in unison will indicate urgent national attention. The gathering of regional groups should not only be at the instance of government but to synthesize issues for Nigeria.

“Government is failing in security, transparency, accountability, inclusiveness, and business. We must speak out so that, even if we take over in 2027, lives and opportunities are protected.”

Addressing the Forum further, Prince Adebayo said, “I want to encourage you to know that we appreciate what you’re doing. The reason why we are here today is not because of politics. We will come back—you will see us better dressed, with the logo of our party flowing.

“But we have come here simply as patriots, as Nigerians who want to have certain conversations before partisanship takes over.

“There are three broad issues I want us to remember about this visit. First, the place of the North, the destiny of Nigeria. Northern Nigeria is not for foreigners alone; it is the crown jewel of the Nigerian state. If there’s a private state of Nigeria, it’s in Northern Nigeria.

“The journey to nationhood started in 1914; it is now 111 years old. There’s no excuse for pretending that there is a U-turn anywhere. There’s no reverse gear in the vehicle of Nigeria. It’s like a train; there’s no reverse gear.

“The first thing is to know that we started with one North, one people under the NPC. For the Second Republic, God help us, we became one nation, one destiny. But the present politics is making it look like every man for himself.

“That is the point at which we want the Northern elders, the ACF, to take a critical look at using the soft power of your institution to ensure that the conversation we have in this country can build it properly.

“There are real problems, and they are all well documented. I’m happy that on both sides of the divide are decades of government experience. But after leaving office, a seemingly wise person just becomes immediately confused.

“Those who are in office now, even though I ran against them and thought we would do better, are abysmal. Their energy is being used for things that are not the real problems of the country.

“The second point I make is urgent: we are running episodic governance. It’s not like the way we started the Nigerian National Development Plan, 1960–1965. Wherever you were, whichever party came to government—whether NCNC, Action Group, NPC—it was a National Development Plan.

“If Awolowo had been Prime Minister, we would still build Ajaokuta. Some roads designed by former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon and Femi Okuno have not been built to this day. Many dams in the North—Kanji Dam, Shiroro, and others—still have potential, but nobody talks about them.

“Today, a politician in his own country says something far away, and it’s enough fuel to tear ourselves apart. Even something as fundamental as Nigeria’s sovereignty is up for debate. We don’t have a common basis for unity. Even the loss of human lives can’t generate consensus that yes, nobody should be killed.

“If we understand the North well in politics, and if the North understands us, we will have solved the majority of Nigeria’s problems. Today, most killings are taking place in the North. I am proud to announce, you could be like me, a follower of the Sawaba politics of Femi Okuno.

“In the past, you couldn’t stand up in the North and say you are a Christian leader or a Muslim leader—people would laugh. Now, religion is influencing careers and even humanitarian responses, where human life is weighed differently depending on faith.

“If we start this conversation with the ACF and sister organizations, we must understand there is one Nigeria. The North is a critical component, and we’re not going anywhere. Reforms are possible, but no reform can render me a non-Nigerian.

“I am a Nigerian and want to remain so. The conversation should go beyond division—let’s have lines of different ideas on governance.”

Responding, the Chairman of the Board of the Trustees, BoT, of Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF,
Alhaji Bashir Mohammed Dalhatu (Waziri Dutse), said Prince Adebayo’s
desire for nation-building was well known.

He said, “On behalf of the Arewa Consultative Forum, welcome to our office in Abuja. Your name has gone far and wide; your desire for nation-building is well known. I am amazed at how many points you’ve mentioned that I share completely.

“Nigeria needs people who think in a united manner. The ACF was established 25 years ago—a gathering of northern governors, emirs, chiefs, business people, and religious leaders—to identify, promote, and protect the social, cultural, and economic interests of the North within the context of Nigeria. We are first and foremost Nigerians, and then Northern Nigerians.

“It is very pleasing to receive people like you, so we can exchange ideas. Since we are not in active partisan politics, we use visits like this to discuss things disturbing our progress and hindering development in the North.

“The problems are clear: security, unemployment, multitudes of children on the streets. These problems are not peculiar to the North; they exist throughout the country.

“The ACF has always welcomed politicians. Those moments allow us to exchange ideas, see which politicians are concerned about tackling these problems, and share knowledge.

‘In two weeks, we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the ACF in Kaduna, reaching out to all socio-cultural groupings to address Nigeria’s problems in a spirit of brotherhood.

“We view what affects one Nigerian as affecting all. No group alone can solve Nigeria’s problems. We need to cooperate with those who can assist the country.

“Prince, you are welcome. Our doors are open, and we will invite you to Kaduna again so that you can observe how we conduct our business.

“We are open, transparent, and want to consolidate brotherhood across Nigeria.”