By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo

A former presidential aspirant of the Labour Party (LP), Faduri Oluwadare Joseph, popularly known as Fadojoe, has declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, saying he is entering the race to address what he described as Nigeria’s worsening economic hardship, insecurity and leadership failures.

In a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Rev. Emmanuel Olorunmagba, shortly after the declaration, Fadojoe said he was not joining the race as part of the political elite but as “a son of the soil” compelled by the growing hardship faced by ordinary Nigerians.

“Nigeria is bleeding. Nigerians are suffering. Silence is no longer an option,” he said.

Fadojoe criticised key economic policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange rate, which he said were implemented without adequate preparation or social safety measures.

According to him, the subsidy removal led to sharp increases in fuel prices, transportation costs, food prices, rents and electricity tariffs, pushing more Nigerians into poverty.

“Today, Nigerians must choose between feeding their families and transporting themselves to work, if they still have jobs,” he said.

He also accused the Federal Government of excessive borrowing, alleging that despite the removal of fuel subsidy, the current administration has borrowed more than any previous government.

On security, Fadojoe described the situation as dire, citing the spread of kidnapping, banditry and terrorism across the country. He condemned the payment of ransom to kidnappers, describing it as a practice that “empowers criminals instead of stopping them.”

“A government that cannot protect lives has failed in its most basic duty,” he said.

The LP chieftain further criticised the state of the education and health sectors, saying youth unemployment had reached alarming levels, while medical emergencies had become life-threatening due to poorly equipped hospitals and inadequate welfare for health workers.

He questioned why public officials frequently seek medical treatment abroad while local health facilities continue to deteriorate.

Reflecting on the 2023 general election, Fadojoe said he stepped down from the Labour Party presidential race to support Mr. Peter Obi, but expressed disappointment over what he described as Obi’s alignment with political actors he blamed for Nigeria’s challenges.

“Can the arsonists become the firefighters?” he asked, warning Nigerians against what he called the return of “recycled politicians” under new political coalitions.

He likened emerging alliances to the 2014 coalition that produced the All Progressives Congress (APC), arguing that only party platforms had changed, not the individuals involved.

Calling for a “generational shift of power,” Fadojoe said the 2027 election would represent a contest between “the people and the political class.”

He announced plans to build a people-funded “Rescue Movement” comprising youths, workers, professionals, farmers, traders and Nigerians in the diaspora, stressing that he would not rely on political godfathers or financiers.

“No individual can fund a presidential election alone without stolen wealth,” he said. “This movement will be funded by the people and driven by the people.”

Fadojoe urged Nigerians to organise, mobilise, vote and protect their votes in 2027, saying the country stands at a crossroads between genuine change and the continuation of what he described as entrenched political practices.

“This is our moment,” he said. “Let us rise together and reclaim our nation.”