In a sharply worded assessment, 2027 presidential hopeful and civic advocate, Abayomi Mighty, has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s midterm performance—spanning from May 29, 2023, to May 29, 2025—as a “catastrophic failure of leadership.” According to Abayomi Mighty, the administration’s tenure has been defined by spiraling economic hardship, growing insecurity, and a troubling culture of governmental extravagance, all of which have contributed to a deepening national crisis.
Abayomi Mighty highlights the administration’s decision to remove fuel subsidies as a critical misstep that triggered a 194.5% surge in petrol prices, from N238.11 per litre in May 2023 to N701.24 by April 2024. He argues that this policy has exacerbated inflationary pressures, significantly driving up transportation costs and leading to a food inflation rate of 40.53%—the highest the country has seen in over 15 years. These changes, according to him, have imposed untold hardship on ordinary Nigerians and disrupted household stability across the country.
The economic woes, he notes, were further compounded by the naira’s steep devaluation, with the currency falling from N461.76/\$1 in May 2023 to N1,382.89/\$1 by April 2024—representing a 200% depreciation. He contends that this collapse in the exchange rate has devastated the purchasing power of Nigerians and plunged countless households deeper into poverty.
Abayomi Mighty also raised alarm over the administration’s growing appetite for borrowing. He criticized President Tinubu’s request for parliamentary approval to secure $21.5 billion in external loans, warning that such borrowing risks ballooning the country’s debt profile without yielding any visible improvements in the health, education, or infrastructure sectors. “These funds are not being directed toward transformative investments,” he remarked, “but rather toward unsustainable consumption.”
On security, Abayomi Mighty painted a grim picture of Nigeria’s deteriorating state. Citing recent data, he noted that over 700 deaths have been recorded in the Southeast alone as a result of separatist-linked violence. He also referenced the killing of five soldiers and six civilians in Aba, Abia State, as emblematic of the growing threat to national stability. According to him, the government has proven incapable of containing armed violence or protecting both civilians and security personnel alike.
Abayomi Mighty condemned the government’s response to popular dissent, citing the “End Bad Governance” protests as a watershed moment. On August 1, 2024, at least 21 protesters were reportedly killed and over 1,100 arrested nationwide. He described the crackdown as excessive and reflective of an administration that is increasingly authoritarian and detached from the people’s realities. “Rather than engage citizens and address their demands, the state has opted for brute force,” he stated.
Despite the economic strain, Abayomi Mighty criticized the administration’s penchant for lavish spending. In 2023, approximately $38 million was budgeted for the presidential air fleet, luxury vehicles, and residential upgrades—including the procurement of a new Airbus A330-200. He described these expenditures as “tone-deaf and extravagant,” particularly at a time when the average Nigerian is battling to afford basic needs.
Abayomi Mighty maintained that President Tinubu’s administration has failed to make any meaningful progress in its first two years. He called for a strategic policy overhaul and a renewed commitment to people-oriented governance. “The nation needs leadership grounded in empathy, vision, and accountability—none of which this administration has demonstrated thus far,” he concluded.