In a candid critique aired during a Channels TV interview on July 22, APC chieftain Adamu Garba, a former lawmaker and presidential aspirant, cautioned President Bola Tinubu against listening to flatterers within his inner circle. He warned the president could be misled into believing that all is well in the nation, despite evident economic and political distress.
Things Are Not Okay
Garba contended that those pledging unwavering loyalty around Tinubu are masking harsh realities.
“I believe there are a lot of sycophants around the president. People are telling him that things are okay. Things are not okay,” he asserted.
He expressed concern that this echo chamber is preventing Tinubu from addressing core issues facing Nigerians.
ADC Coalition as Opportunistic Threat
Garba described the African Democratic Congress (ADC)-led opposition coalition as a “vulture” capitalizing on APC's weaknesses.
“They hope for our loss, and that is why we need to be serious … leadership … truthful … capable of listening to criticism without flattery or sycophancy.”
He called for sincere leadership and openness to constructive criticism within the party.
APC’s Northern Support Decline
Highlighting a decline in northern support, Garba noted that APC received only 5.5 million votes in northern Nigeria during the 2023 general elections—down sharply from the approximately 12 million votes aided by former President Muhammadu Buhari. He emphasized the need for strategic recalibration in the absence of Buhari's influence.
Implications Ahead of 2027
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For the APC: Garba's statements underscore internal fractures and the urgency of revitalizing party structures.
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For President Tinubu: The warning highlights a critical need to deliberate with honest advisors and address public grievances.
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For the ADC coalition: The opposition stands poised to exploit APC's vulnerabilities if systemic issues remain unresolved.
Bottom Line
Adamu Garba’s unfiltered critique serves as a clarion call for President Tinubu and the APC: ditch the sycophancy, embrace realism, and act decisively to uplift the nation—and secure political stability ahead of the crucial 2027 elections.
