Tinubu Second Term Talk Sparks Criticism From Former Deputy

Former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Kofo Bucknor-Akerele, has taken a swipe at President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election focus, calling it a distraction from Nigeria’s pressing challenges.

Bucknor-Akerele, who served as Tinubu’s deputy from 1999 to 2002, expressed concern over what she sees as misplaced priorities by the current administration. Speaking on a television programme, she said Tinubu should focus on tackling the country’s deep-rooted problems instead of eyeing another term.

Her comments come amid growing public frustration over the state of the economy, insecurity, and rising unemployment, especially among young people. Bucknor-Akerele said what the country needs now is not political ambition but urgent reforms that will improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

She pointed to the ongoing efforts by The Patriots, a group led by former Commonwealth Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku, which is pushing for constitutional reforms and a complete overhaul of the country’s governance structure. According to her, such steps are far more important than any electoral campaign.

She warned that the growing anger among jobless youth could lead to instability if political leaders continue to ignore the real issues. She described a situation where many graduates are forced to take menial jobs as troubling and unsustainable. If care is not taken, she said, the frustration could boil over and threaten the country’s democracy.

Bucknor-Akerele also spoke on the need to tackle insecurity, fix the education system, and revive the economy. She stressed the urgency of cutting down on recurrent expenditure, which she said consumes a large part of the national budget, leaving little for development.

She pushed for state policing as part of the security reforms and advocated for a return to systems that once worked, including free education and affordable healthcare. In her view, Nigeria needs bold changes to save it from collapse, not political maneuvering for future elections.

Her remarks have stirred discussions on whether President Tinubu should be thinking of a second term at a time when Nigerians are demanding concrete action on the country’s growing problems.