A member of President Bola Tinubu’s 2023 Presidential Campaign Council, Abdulhakeem Adegoke Alawuje, has expressed concern over growing dissatisfaction among some of the President’s campaign supporters who believe they have been abandoned after committing their time, resources and personal sacrifices to his electoral victory.
Alawuje, who appealed to the aggrieved supporters to exercise patience and political maturity ahead of the 2027 general elections, also urged Tinubu to address their grievances, recognise their contributions and ensure that the administration’s economic reforms produced tangible improvements in the living conditions of Nigerians.
In a message to Nigerians who participated in Tinubu’s 2023 presidential campaign, the political advocate said many supporters were disappointed that their loyalty and contributions had not translated into the recognition and opportunities they expected after the election.
He warned that the dissatisfaction could deepen unless the administration demonstrated greater sensitivity to the concerns of those who worked for its emergence.
“Those who stood with you in 2023 are human beings with families, responsibilities, aspirations and legitimate expectations.
“They are not political statistics. They are not disposable campaign materials. They are not people whose usefulness ended immediately after the declaration of election results,” he told the President.
Alawuje maintained that political loyalty should not override merit in appointments and other opportunities, but argued that the principle of merit should not become an excuse for disregarding genuine contributions to the administration’s electoral success.
“The Renewed Hope agenda must also renew the hopes of those who worked to make it possible,” he said.
He acknowledged that many campaign supporters had endured difficult conditions, committed personal finances and defended Tinubu against political criticism during the 2023 election.
“You deserve to be heard. Your sacrifices deserve recognition. Your concerns deserve attention,” he told them.
Alawuje, however, cautioned the aggrieved supporters against allowing their disappointment to determine their political decisions ahead of 2027, urging them to assess political alternatives carefully.
“Don’t make decisions, and particularly don’t speak when you are angry. Otherwise, you may end up adding more unbearable pepper to the very wounds that caused your anger in the first place,” he said.
He also warned against abandoning political convictions solely because of grievances arising from unmet personal expectations.
“Let your disappointment not become your political destruction. Let your anger not become an instrument for restoring the very political interests you once worked tirelessly to displace,” he appealed.
Beyond the grievances of campaign supporters, Alawuje acknowledged the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians, including rising food prices, transportation costs, unemployment and the impact of government policies on household finances.
He said the removal of petrol subsidy and changes to the foreign exchange system had imposed considerable hardship on citizens, even as the administration maintained that the measures were necessary to address structural weaknesses in the economy.
According to him, the Federal Government must ensure that Nigerians are protected from the most severe consequences of its economic policies.
“The responsibility of government is not merely to introduce reforms; it is also to ensure that the people survive those reforms,” he stated.
Alawuje argued that the administration’s performance should be measured by improvements in employment opportunities, purchasing power and general living conditions rather than the intentions behind its policies.
“The success of the Renewed Hope agenda must ultimately be measured by improvements in the lives of Nigerians, not simply by the intentions of those implementing it,” he added.
He cautioned the APC against interpreting perceived weaknesses among opposition parties as evidence that Nigerians were satisfied with the government’s performance.
“Nigerians deserve better, and the administration must continually earn their confidence,” he said.
The political advocate also challenged opposition politicians, particularly former public officeholders, to explain their previous records in government and present practical alternatives to the administration’s policies.
He maintained that criticism of economic hardship, without clear proposals for addressing it, was insufficient to establish the credibility of political alternatives.
“Have temporary economic difficulties completely erased our political memories? Must the pain of today make us romanticise the disappointments of yesterday?” he queried.
Alawuje reaffirmed his support for allowing Tinubu to demonstrate the results of his reforms within his constitutional tenure, while insisting that the administration must remain accountable to Nigerians.
“My position remains that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu deserves the opportunity to demonstrate the full results of his reform agenda within his constitutionally guaranteed tenure, while remaining accountable to Nigerians,” he said.
He urged the President to respond to the grievances of campaign loyalists, improve the living conditions of citizens and ensure that political supporters did not feel abandoned after elections.
Alawuje maintained that loyalty to the administration should not prevent supporters from questioning unfulfilled promises, criticising government policies or demanding measures to alleviate economic hardship.
