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By Chief Akinwumi Akinfenwa

When the All Progressives Congress (APC) took power in 2015 under President Muhammadu Buhari, it rode on the wings of a seductive slogan—“CHANGE.”
Millions believed.
Millions hoped.
Millions voted.

But from 2015 to 2023, Nigeria endured eight wasted years, marked by unprecedented economic stagnation, inflationary spikes, violent insecurity and institutional decay. By Buhari’s exit, Nigeria was ranked by the World Bank as the world’s poverty capital, with over 89 million people living in extreme poverty.

Then came 2023.
A controversial election.
A divided nation.
And the emergence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu under a new slogan—“Renewed Hope.”

But today, less than two years into Tinubu’s presidency, the evidence is overwhelming:
Renewed Hope has become Renewed Hardship.
And for the survival of the Nigerian state, Tinubu must not return in 2027.

This is not emotion.
This is not opposition rhetoric.
This is hard data—economic, social, and security evidence that Nigeria cannot afford another four years of this leadership.

*1. THE ECONOMIC DESTRUCTION IS SYSTEMIC AND FRIGHTENING*

a. The Naira Collapse: A National Security Threat

Jonathan (2015): ₦160 per $1
Buhari (2023): ₦735 per $1
Tinubu (2024/2025): ₦1,300–₦1,500 per $1

This represents a 900% devaluation in 10 years—one of the steepest currency collapses globally.

The IMF ranked the Nigerian naira as the worst-performing currency in Africa in 2023–2024.
The continuous depreciation has:

Raised import costs

Crashed manufacturing

Forced companies to close or leave Nigeria

Sent inflation skyrocketing

The naira is no longer a currency—
it is now a warning sign.

b. Unprecedented Inflation: Nigerians Are Becoming Poorer Daily

Headline inflation (June 2015): 9.0%
Headline inflation (2024): 33%+
Food inflation (2024): 40%+ (NBS)

Bread, rice, beans, yam, cooking gas—everything moved beyond the reach of ordinary Nigerians.

The World Bank declared in its 2024 Nigeria Development Update that:

“71 million Nigerians cannot afford a healthy diet.”

A government that cannot guarantee food security has lost moral legitimacy.

c. Fuel: The APC Masterstroke of Hardship

Fuel (2015): ₦87
Fuel under Tinubu (2023/24): ₦617–₦1,000+

The removal of fuel subsidy without cushioning mechanisms pushed transport costs, food prices, electricity bills and logistics nightmares to catastrophic levels.

This one policy alone plunged over 20 million Nigerians into multidimensional poverty (World Bank, 2024).

*2. SECURITY HAS DETERIORATED TO WAR-TIME LEVELS*

Under Tinubu’s administration:

Kidnapping cases rose by 36% in one year (SBM Intelligence, 2024)

Over 4,700 Nigerians were killed in violent attacks in 2023 alone (CFR Nigeria Security Tracker)

Bandits now control ungoverned territories across Kaduna, Niger, Katsina, Zamfara and Plateau

School abductions have returned at catastrophic levels

Nigeria today is effectively a multi-front war zone:
Boko Haram, ISWAP, bandits, unknown gunmen, killer herdsmen, cult groups, and urban criminals.

Under Tinubu, insecurity is no longer a sector—
It is an economy.

*3. EDUCATION IS DYING AND THE MIDDLE CLASS IS BEING ERADICATED*

Federal university fees pre-APC: ₦40k–₦60k
Tinubu’s era: ₦200k–₦300k+

This policy alone has:

Increased dropout rates

Pushed millions of youths into crime

Destroyed the dream of upward mobility

UNESCO reports that Nigeria has 20 million out-of-school children—the highest in the world.

A country that destroys education is preparing for future chaos.

*4. UNEMPLOYMENT AND CORPORATE EXODUS*

Unemployment under Jonathan (2015): 6.4%
Under Buhari/Tinubu (2023): 35% real unemployment
Youth unemployment: 54%+

Meanwhile, companies are shutting down and relocating:

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)

Sanofi

P&G

Bolt Food

Jumia Food

Many manufacturing plants

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria reported that over 380 companies shut down in 2023 alone due to the forex crisis and harsh policies.

A government whose policies chase out investors cannot create jobs.

*5. NATIONAL DEBT: APC HAS MORTGAGED THE FUTURE*

Debt before APC (2015): ₦12 trillion
Debt under APC (2024): ₦97 trillion+ (DMO)

Debt servicing now consumes over 90% of government revenue.

Nigeria is borrowing to pay salaries.
Borrowing to fund governance.
Borrowing to survive.

No nation can grow under this debt trap.

*6. THE REALITY: APC HAS FAILED TWICE, AND FAILURE HAS BECOME THEIR GOVERNANCE MODEL*

APC’s record since 2015 is consistent:

Economic decline

Policy confusion

Currency crises

Security deterioration

Institutional decay

Rising poverty

Runaway inflation

Corporate shutdowns

Youth hopelessness

Debt explosion

Tinubu inherited a broken nation and broke it further.
Nigeria cannot afford four more years of this trajectory.

*7. WHY TINUBU MUST BE VOTED OUT IN 2027*

Based on verifiable indicators from:

World Bank

IMF

NBS

UNDP

CFR

SBM Intelligence

MAN

DMO

The conclusion is clear:

Another four years of Bola Tinubu will lead to:

A naira beyond ₦2,000 per $

Inflation exceeding 50%

More corporate collapse

Mass unemployment

Worsening banditry and terrorism

A national debt crisis

Total erosion of the middle class

Deepening hunger and unrest

Possible national disintegration

Nigeria needs economic stabilisation, not experimentation.
It needs reformists, not propagandists.
It needs competence, not political slogans.

2027 is not an election year.

2027 is a rescue mission.

If Nigeria is to survive the next decade, Tinubu must not return.

*CONCLUSION: NIGERIA DESERVES RECOVERY, NOT CONTINUED DECLINE*

The evidence is overwhelming.
The facts are undeniable.
The data is frightening.

APC has had ten years—
Ten years of promises, propaganda, and pain.
Ten years of failed slogans—
Change.
Next Level.
Renewed Hope.

Nigerians do not need another slogan.
They need solutions.
They need competent leadership.
They need a new direction.

2027 is the moment Nigeria decides:

Rebuild or collapse.
Recover or continue suffering.
Rise or remain in ruin.

And that decision starts with one sentence:
Bola Ahmed Tinubu must not return as President.

• ©️ Chief Akinwumi Akinfenwa a 
Political Scientist, Public Policy Analyst, Social Commentator, and Advocate for Constitutional Decency lives in Ibadan*
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