The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Adewole Adebayo, has attributed Nigeria’s persistent economic and security challenges to widespread corruption, insisting that the country cannot achieve lasting peace, stability and prosperity without strengthening accountability, transparency and integrity in public service.
Adebayo made the remarks while addressing participants at the Arewa Awareness Summit on Unity Against Insecurity in Kaduna State. He urged political leaders at all levels to embrace responsible governance and adopt practical, evidence based solutions to tackle the country’s growing social and economic problems.
According to him, effective leadership remains the foundation for national development, stressing that corruption continues to stand in the way of meaningful progress. He maintained that no policy reform or institutional restructuring would produce the desired results unless public institutions are guided by honesty, accountability and transparency.
The SDP presidential candidate also drew attention to the enormous human and natural resources available across Northern Nigeria, saying the region has the capacity to drive economic growth if its leaders make better use of those assets for the benefit of the people.
He urged government officials, community leaders and other stakeholders to move beyond endless discussions about the causes of insecurity and focus on implementing practical and sustainable measures capable of restoring peace and stability.
Adebayo identified agriculture as one of the strongest tools for economic recovery, noting that greater investment in the sector would create employment opportunities, strengthen food production and stimulate broader economic growth across the country.
He also expressed concern over the large number of out of school children in Northern Nigeria, warning that sustainable development would remain out of reach unless governments significantly increase investment in education and provide more young people with access to quality learning opportunities.
Adebayo stressed that building a secure and prosperous Nigeria requires leaders who are committed to transparency, responsible governance and policies that directly improve the lives of citizens.
