The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has vowed to continue its criticism of President Bola Tinubu, with former Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye stating the party will persist in challenging the administration’s policies. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja organised by the National Forum of Legislators in the ADC, Melaye accused the President of disregarding Nigeria’s worsening economic and security crises.
Melaye lamented the country’s deteriorating security situation and questioned the Federal Government’s borrowing record, drawing comparisons to the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. He claimed Nigeria’s debt profile has surged significantly despite the removal of fuel subsidies, challenging authorities to account for how borrowed funds have been utilised.
“Under Buhari, with subsidies, Nigeria borrowed N87 trillion in eight years,” Melaye said. “Without subsidies, Tinubu’s government has borrowed N167 trillion in just three years. I want anyone to show me what we have done with that money. This is the first time in history that a $13 billion infrastructure project—the largest in Africa—was awarded without competitive bidding.”
The former senator further alleged irregularities in the award of a major infrastructure contract, claiming it was granted to a Lebanese associate of the President. He accused Tinubu of inappropriately conferring Nigeria’s highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), on the individual in Paris, a privilege traditionally reserved for the Vice President.
“This is not the Nigeria that Awolowo dreamed of, or the Nigeria that Azikiwe or Sardauna Ahmadu Bello laboured for,” Melaye said. “May the labour of our heroes past never be in vain.”
Melaye also criticised the President’s remarks regarding the ADC’s recent convention, accusing him of overstepping his authority by declaring it illegal while the matter was still before the courts. “No court in Nigeria has ruled our convention illegal, yet the President addressed it as such, prompting the judiciary and acting in an unpresidential manner,” he said. “Only someone with arthritis of the brain would react this way.”
He concluded by reiterating the party’s resolve to challenge the administration. “He says we want to scare him, and for saying that, he’s already scared. We will continue to scare him.”
