Senior Advocate of Nigeria Jibrin Okutepa has faulted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s claim that his political opponents created the hunger and poverty confronting Nigerians, insisting that citizens need practical solutions to their economic difficulties rather than what he described as the creation of “imaginary enemies.”
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Okutepa’s reaction followed Tinubu’s remarks at the flag-off of the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign in Kaduna on Saturday, October 24, 2026, where the President formally began his campaign for a second term in office.
Addressing supporters at the Kaduna rally, Tinubu accused his political opponents of creating the hunger and poverty they now criticise his administration over, while maintaining that his government was working to eradicate the problems.
Reacting in a statement posted on X on Sunday, Okutepa rejected that explanation, saying Nigerians facing economic hardship were more interested in solutions than political blame.
“With respect, Nigerians are not interested in such stories. That statement does not appeal to me or many Nigerians at all,” the senior lawyer said.
Okutepa stressed that he was making the intervention not as a politician or campaigner for any candidate, but as a legal practitioner concerned about the rule of law, public accountability and good governance.
“I am not a politician, and I am not campaigning for any politician,” he said.
He argued that the hardship confronting Nigerians could not reasonably be attributed simply to political opponents, describing the situation instead as the cumulative consequence of governance failures under successive administrations since Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999.
According to him, poverty and hunger affect Nigerians irrespective of their political affiliations.
“Hunger has no party affiliation. Poverty does not distinguish between supporters of the ruling party and members of the opposition,” Okutepa said.
He maintained that where families struggle to afford food, education, healthcare and shelter, attributing their difficulties to political opponents provides neither immediate relief nor hope.
The senior lawyer argued that those entrusted with public power bear responsibility for the consequences of policies implemented while they are in office.
He noted that governments control public resources, prepare budgets, determine policy priorities, administer programmes and carry the constitutional responsibility of providing security and creating an environment in which citizens can earn a decent living.
“Political opponents do not prepare government budgets or administer its policies,” he said.
“Criticism of failure cannot reasonably be presented as the cause of that failure.”
Okutepa, however, made clear that his criticism was not intended to absolve previous administrations or opposition politicians who had previously exercised governmental power.
According to him, successive administrations have had opportunities to strengthen institutions, improve infrastructure, promote productive economic activity and protect public resources.
He said failures accumulated over the years could not simply be erased by changing political parties, alliances or campaign slogans.
For that reason, Okutepa said politicians who previously held public office and are again seeking the votes of Nigerians must also account honestly for their records.
He stressed that this did not mean every administration should bear equal responsibility for the country’s present circumstances or that external economic pressures should be ignored.
Rather, he said, those who exercise power must explain their decisions, acknowledge shortcomings where they exist and clearly demonstrate what they are doing to improve citizens’ living conditions.
Okutepa also cautioned political leaders against routinely invoking sabotage or political enemies to explain government failures without producing evidence.
“Allegations of sabotage require evidence,” he said.
“They must never become a convenient substitute for competent government.”
The senior advocate said campaigns ahead of the 2027 general election should therefore focus on practical questions affecting the everyday lives of Nigerians.
He listed food affordability, security, business survival, youth employment and measurable outcomes from public expenditure among the matters presidential candidates should be addressing.
“How will food become affordable?
“How will communities become secure?
“How will businesses survive, and how will young people find productive employment?
“What measurable improvements will public spending deliver, and within what period?” he asked.
Okutepa said those questions, rather than political insults and conspiracy theories, ought to dominate campaign platforms.
“These are the issues that deserve the campaign platform,” he said.
“Insults, conspiracy theories and the invention of enemies merely evade the duty to answer them.”
He equally warned that opposition parties should not assume that criticism of the incumbent government was sufficient to earn them public support.
According to him, opposition politicians seeking power also have a responsibility to provide credible alternatives and subject their proposed policies and promises to public scrutiny.
He described democracy as “a contest of ideas, records and practical solutions,” stressing that Nigerians should demand results from those currently governing them while also demanding substance from politicians seeking to replace them.
Okutepa consequently urged political actors across party lines to make the 2027 campaigns about their records, concrete proposals and the methods through which they intend to deliver their promises.
“The suffering of the people must never be reduced to material for partisan excuses,” he said.
“Let politicians campaign on what they have done, what they will do and how they will do it. Imaginary opponents cannot bear the responsibility of those entrusted with power.”
Tinubu had launched his re-election campaign in Kaduna with a defence of his administration’s economic policies, telling supporters that his government was attempting to eradicate inherited hunger and poverty while promising prosperity, recovery and opportunities if returned for a second term.
The APC has said its campaign will focus on what it considers the achievements of the Tinubu administration.
Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, had said the administration had turned around the situation it inherited and possessed a record it could present to Nigerians during the campaign.
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