The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has raised alarm over what it describes as a growing dependence of Nigerian leaders on foreign approval, warning that the trend is pushing the country toward a “new form of colonialism.”
Speaking during a meeting with party members at the Kaduna State SDP Secretariat on Saturday, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Prince Adewale Adebayo, criticized political leaders who, according to him, respond faster to international voices than to the concerns of Nigerians.
He cited recent instances in which the federal government allegedly ignored local appeals but reacted promptly after comments from foreign figures.
“When President Tinubu refused to respond to Nigerians on key issues, he immediately woke up after a single tweet from U.S. President Donald Trump,” Adebayo said. “It shows they listen to foreigners more than the people they govern.”
‘Black-Skinned Colonial Masters’
Adebayo compared the current political direction to a reversal of Nigeria’s independence gains, saying early nationalists such as Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ahmadu Bello, Herbert Macaulay and Obafemi Awolowo fought against external control, yet today’s leaders appear eager to rule from France and Dubai.
“Instead of white colonial masters, we now have black-skinned colonial masters,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to resist any trend that undermines national sovereignty, cautioning against political manipulation, economic dependency and the weakening of opposition parties.
The SDP flagbearer emphasized that national challenges such as hunger, insecurity and unemployment cut across all divides.
“In this hardship, there is no north or south, Christian or Muslim. We are all affected,” he stated, calling for unity and vigilance as the country approaches the 2027 elections.
He warned that political elites could attempt to consolidate power by shrinking the democratic space, and urged citizens to “stay alert and refuse to be deceived.”
Other national leaders at the meeting, including SDP National Secretary on Labour, CSOs and NGOs, Rosemary Asuquo Effiong, called for intensified mobilisation and a robust membership drive across Kaduna State.
Effiong urged members to share the party’s message of people-oriented policies, warning that rumours and internal conflicts weaken party strength.
“Your mission is to build the party, carry others along and ensure we enter 2027 as a united force,” she said.
State Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Idris, disclosed that the party had survived attempts by a former state governor to hijack its structure in Kaduna. He said the chapter resisted successfully, preventing what he described as “a political takeover that would have harmed the party.”
He appealed for support to secure a befitting state office, while assuring that the party’s structures at ward and LG levels remain firm.
National Financial Secretary, Alhaji Ado Bello, said insecurity and economic hardship stem from mismanagement and lack of innovative solutions.
“Nigeria is not a poor country — what we lack are ideas,” he said, praising Adebayo as a leader with the competence and creativity needed to move the nation forward
