By Abba Dukawa
Some people might strongly support a political party because of their identity, beliefs, or past loyalty while, at the same time, struggling with the rising cost of food and other essential goods. This creates a conflict between their political loyalty and their personal economic experience.
For millions of citizens eligible to vote in the upcoming election, this presents a difficult dilemma, particularly as the country’s recent economic reforms have generated considerable debate. The removal of the petrol subsidy and changes to the exchange-rate system were intended by the government to address long-standing economic distortions and improve fiscal and market conditions. At the same time, these measures have contributed to significant increases in the cost of living and placed substantial financial pressure on households across the country.
As Nigeria moves toward another general election, let us, regardless of party affiliation, place the future, unity, and well-being of our nation above partisan interests. Whether you support or oppose President Bola Tinubu’s administration, our shared responsibility as citizens is to look beyond political loyalties and honestly confront the realities facing ordinary Nigerians. We should ask ourselves, with a sense of national duty and an eye toward the future, what kind of leadership, policies, and institutions will best serve the interests of our country and improve the lives of its people in the years ahead.
For instance, the fact that a litre of petrol now costs as much as ₦1,500 at some filling stations is a reality that deserves serious attention. Beyond political loyalty or opposition, these are the issues that should shape our daily conversations, inform our choices, and define our expectations as citizens.
Look at the markets, where a bag of rice has become a luxury for millions of families. Look at our hospitals, where doctors and other health workers continue to demand better working conditions. Look at our schools, where parents struggle to keep their children enrolled, while students increasingly turn to loans simply to remain in school.
Look at the Nigerians who are maimed or killed by bandits and kidnappers. Look at the families of kidnapped victims who are pushed into financial ruin as they struggle to raise ransom payments. Look at the fear gripping travellers on our highways, where many Nigerians no longer feel safe simply trying to get from one destination to another.
These are not abstract political arguments. They are the realities of everyday life for millions of Nigerians. They demand honest conversation, responsible leadership, and a citizenry willing to look beyond partisan loyalty and confront the issues that affect our collective wellbeing.
Then ask yourself one simple question: You can continue to stand with Tinubu. But is Tinubu’s administration standing with you?
This is not merely a political attack. It is a question of accountability. It is an invitation to examine what Nigerians have experienced since President Bola Tinubu took office in May 2023 and to ask what those experiences might mean for the future.
Politics should not be reduced to personalities, party colours or social-media arguments. Governments should ultimately be judged by what their policies mean for people’s lives: the cost of food, transportation, electricity, healthcare, education, employment and security. By these measures, there are legitimate questions that deserve serious public discussion.
The administration argued that the removal of the petrol subsidy would free resources for investment in infrastructure, healthcare, education and other national priorities. But for many ordinary Nigerians, the immediate experience was dramatically different.
The naira was subsequently allowed to trade more freely, and its sharp depreciation added another layer of pressure to an economy already struggling with inflation. Supporters of the reforms have argued that they were necessary to correct longstanding distortions in the Nigerian economy. Critics, however, have pointed to the enormous social costs and questioned whether the benefits have been distributed fairly.
There was Three-hundred per cent increase for Band A customers, pushing the electricity tariff from ₦68 per kilowatt-hour to ₦225. Someone who has consistently defended this government recently took to Facebook to lament that he and his family now have to switch off their air conditioners, refrigerators, and lights because they can no longer afford the electricity bills. If Pro government is struggling to cope with the cost of electricity, what does that say about the reality facing the ordinary Nigerian? This is the harsh reality of rising electricity costs for households already struggling with the broader cost-of-living crisis.
That distinction matters. A reform can be economically defensible in principle while still imposing severe hardship if the transition is poorly managed or adequate protection for vulnerable citizens is absent. For millions of Nigerians, therefore, the question is not simply whether subsidy removal was necessary. The bigger question is whether the government has done enough to ensure that ordinary people are not crushed by the consequences.
Without any partisan motive, the reality on the ground must be acknowledged: Nigeria’s poverty and cost-of-living crisis has become one of the defining issues of the Tinubu administration.
The important question is not simply how many Nigerians are poor, but why so many people feel poorer despite repeated assurances that economic reforms will eventually produce prosperity. Equally important is the question of why government interventions are not reaching those who need them most.
Nigerians have heard promises about fighting corruption from successive governments, and the Tinubu administration is no exception. Yet allegations surrounding budgetary allocations, questionable procurement processes and the existence of purportedly fraudulent government structures have continued to generate public concern.
Reports concerning the alleged allocation of ₦1.3 billion to a purportedly fictitious agency, as well as investigations into other suspicious entities and bank accounts, require thorough and transparent examination. The appropriate response to such allegations is neither blind defence nor automatic conviction. Who created the entities? Who authorised their funding? Who received the money? What services, if any, were delivered? Which officials approved the transactions? These questions should be answered with documents and evidence, not propaganda.
As the nation marches towards the general elections, which are expected to be hotly contested between those advocating continuity and those pursuing change, it is important to remember one thing: you can stand with any politician. That is your right. You can defend them on social media. You can even wear their campaign cap.
But political loyalty should never require you to close your eyes. When you defend a government, ask: Who is defending your interests? When you celebrate an economic reform, ask: What does it cost the family next door? When you applaud a budget, ask: What does it contain for the hospital, the school, the farmer, the worker and the unemployed graduate?
When billions of naira are allocated, ask: Where does the money go? And when the government asks citizens to sacrifice, ask whether those making the decisions are sacrificing too. The ultimate issue is not whether President Tinubu deserves anyone’s loyalty. It is whether the government deserves scrutiny, regardless of who occupies the presidency.
Democracy is not a contract to defend a politician at all costs. It is a system in which citizens are entitled to ask difficult questions of the people they put in power. So, before you stand with any politician, make sure you are also standing up for yourself, your family and the future you want for Nigeria.
Dukawa writes from Abuja and can be reached at [email protected].
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