PORT HARCOURT/Nigeria: A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has launched a scathing critique of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing him of deflecting responsibility for Nigeria’s worsening electricity crisis by shifting blame to previous administrations.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Monday, Eze argued that the President’s recent comments on the power sector contradict his pre-election assurances to Nigerians, insisting that leadership must be measured by results rather than excuses.
“Tinubu told Nigerians that he would fix the country’s failed electricity supply through power sector reforms. Today, what we see across the country is widespread darkness, with the national grid collapsing repeatedly and no clear solution in sight,” Eze said.
The ADC stalwart expressed disappointment over what he described as the administration’s inability to translate budgetary allocations into tangible improvements in power supply, urging the President to take responsibility for the situation.
He dismissed the argument that past governments are solely responsible for the current state of the sector, describing it as “an excuse in futility” and inconsistent with the promises made during the 2023 election campaign.
Eze further maintained that even if structural flaws existed in the privatization process, it was the responsibility of the current administration to address them, not deflect blame.
“In his campaign, Tinubu never told Nigerians he would blame past governments; he promised to fix the problem. Leadership is about solutions, not shifting responsibility,” he said.
The ADC chieftain also warned that the persistent power outages have heightened public frustration and, in some cases, exposed electricity workers to risks, as citizens vent their anger over poor service delivery.
His comments followed recent remarks by the President attributing Nigeria’s electricity challenges to structural weaknesses arising from the privatization of the power sector—an explanation Eze firmly rejected.
He argued that Nigerians are increasingly disillusioned by what he termed unmet expectations, adding that governance should be anchored on accountability and measurable progress.
Eze also questioned the rationale behind blaming past administrations despite the ruling party’s extended period in power, insisting that citizens are more concerned with present realities than historical explanations.
He concluded by urging the government to focus on delivering sustainable reforms capable of improving electricity supply, warning that continued hardship could shape public sentiment ahead of future elections.
