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In a strongly worded statement released on May 20, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) issued a blistering mid-term review of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, expressing “deep concern” over what it describes as “renewed hardship, deepening poverty, and growing insecurity” under the much-touted “Renewed Hope” agenda.

Signed by Comrade James Ezema, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of CNPP, the statement warns that unless urgent corrective measures are taken, the country risks spiraling into irreversible chaos.

“Two years into the much-publicized ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda, what Nigerians have experienced instead is renewed hardship,” Ezema said. “This mid-term assessment is not a partisan attack, but a sincere, patriotic call to action — a necessary intervention aimed at urging the government to change course before irreparable damage is done to the soul of our nation.”

 

ECONOMY: “Bold but Brutal”

CNPP acknowledged the administration’s early economic reforms — such as the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira — but condemned the implementation as lacking “proper planning and human-centered cushioning.”

“While these policies were theoretically sound and aimed at correcting long-term structural imbalances, their execution lacked proper planning,” the group stated. “The result has been catastrophic for the average Nigerian.”

 

The CNPP highlighted skyrocketing inflation, unstable exchange rates exceeding N1,500 to the dollar, and soaring costs of food and transportation as evidence of economic mismanagement.

“Despite claims of economic reform, the masses have seen no meaningful relief. Poverty levels have increased, and businesses, especially small-scale enterprises, continue to struggle,” Ezema noted.

 

SECURITY: A State of Emergency Urged

In what may be the most alarming section of the statement, CNPP called for a state of emergency on insecurity, noting widespread violence and fear across the country.

“From rural communities in Zamfara to highways in Niger, and farmlands in Benue to suburbs of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nigerians live in fear of bandits, terrorists, kidnappers, and armed robbers,” the statement read.

 

Though acknowledging some efforts by the Ministry of Defence and Service Chiefs, CNPP declared that citizens “are no longer confident in the ability of the government to protect lives and property.”

“There must be a renewed and better integrated national security strategy,” it added, advocating for decentralization, community policing, and modern intelligence-based operations. It also urged the repositioning of the Nigeria Police Force as the frontline internal security agency.

 

GOVERNANCE: Calls for Transparency and Meritocracy

CNPP sharply criticized governance under the Tinubu administration, alleging widespread favoritism in appointments and a faltering anti-corruption campaign.

“Many appointments into sensitive government positions… have been perceived as political rewards rather than being based on competence,” the group asserted.

 

“The anti-corruption war has largely lost steam… Nigerians are witnessing a return to the same patronage politics that the administration promised to depart from.”

 

The umbrella body of all registered political parties and political associations in Nigeria singled out the prosecution of the former Central Bank Governor as “largely seen as a vendetta” rather than a symbol of true anti-corruption zeal.

YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT: A Ticking Time Bomb

The CNPP also warned about the implications of mass youth unemployment, calling it a national emergency.

“Young Nigerians are losing faith in their country,” Ezema said. “Many are fleeing abroad in search of survival, while those who remain are battling idleness, frustration, and despair.”

 

The group proposed the creation of a National Youth Empowerment Corps to absorb unemployed youths and rebuild “the dignity of work” through skills acquisition, agro-industrial projects, and digital training.

POWER, HEALTH, AND EDUCATION: Decay Across Essential Sectors

Condemning the state of Nigeria’s electricity sector, CNPP said the country was in an “energy crisis” two decades after privatization.

“Power supply is abysmal, the grid collapses persist… No nation can grow with such erratic energy,” the group stated, urging a complete overhaul of the current framework and investments in renewable energy.

 

On education and healthcare, the CNPP painted a bleak picture.

“Our universities and primary schools are underfunded, poorly equipped, and perpetually at risk of strikes. Hospitals are either dilapidated or too expensive for ordinary citizens,” Ezema lamented.

 

The group called for urgent increases in funding and public-private partnerships to improve service delivery, especially for vulnerable populations.

FOREIGN POLICY: All Form, No Substance

The CNPP criticized President Tinubu’s foreign engagements, saying they have yielded “little direct benefit for the Nigerian people.”

“The crisis in Niger Republic and other regional tensions have exposed a disconnect between Nigeria’s diplomatic posturing and its domestic preparedness,” the statement said.

 

It advised the President to reduce foreign trips and instead focus on “trade diplomacy, diaspora engagement, and regional cooperation that yields measurable benefits.”

CALL FOR NATIONAL REORIENTATION

Summing up its mid-term review, the CNPP warned that Nigeria stands at a crossroads. The group called for a cabinet reshuffle, more inclusive governance, and an end to distractions related to the 2027 electoral cycle.

“The next two years must not be a continuation of policy failure and elite-centered governance. The President must open the doors to national dialogue, embrace civil society and opposition voices, and put the people first.”

 

“The days of excuses and self-praise must end. The time to govern with empathy, competence, and vision is now. The Nigerian people deserve no less.”

 

As citizens continue to battle daily hardship, the CNPP’s statement serves as one of the most comprehensive indictments yet of President Tinubu’s performance, raising critical questions about whether the administration can — or will — change direction in the years ahead.

 

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