Nigerians worse off, less secure than three years ago — Hayatu-Deen

By Luminous Jannamike

Nigerians are poorer and less secure than they were three years ago, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, a presidential hopeful on the African Democratic Congress (ADC) platform, has said, urging a new course anchored on disciplined economic management and people-centred leadership to address the country’s deepening crisis.

The intervention comes as the ADC seeks to position itself as a credible alternative ahead of the 2027 elections, with a focus on economic discipline, institutional reform and leadership that speaks to citizens’ lived realities.

Hayatu-Deen spoke on Thursday in Abuja during an interaction with the party’s press corps, where he outlined his motivations, leadership approach and vision for the country.

He said the gap between Nigeria’s potential and its current reality is now evident in everyday life.

“Today, that gap is no longer abstract; it is felt in the rising cost of living, in the insecurity that threatens lives and livelihoods, and in the growing sense of uncertainty about the future.

“Food prices continue to rise. Petrol prices continue to climb. For millions of families, the simple act of getting through the day has become a test of endurance rather than a pursuit of opportunity,” Hayatu-Deen stated.

He also said insecurity has compounded the situation, leaving communities in fear.

“In too many parts of our country, communities live under the shadow of fear, uncertain of what tomorrow may bring,” he said.

Referring to recent developments in the North-East, he added: “Only this week, we have seen Boko Haram take 416 hostages in Borno, my home state. When it cuts this close to home, it reaffirms to me that every Nigerian life matters.

“In some cases, citizens now bear the direct cost of that insecurity, paying ransoms to secure their own safety, a reality that speaks to a deeper failure of protection and leadership.”

On the economy, Hayatu-Deen said recent reforms, though necessary, were poorly managed.

He said, “While macroeconomic reforms were needed, these should have been carefully sequenced in a systematic and orderly manner to mitigate the devastating side effects which the nation has and continues to experience.

“Consequently, this has engendered a broader loss of confidence in the economic stewardship of the country.

“This is not the Nigeria that we were promised. It is definitely not the Nigeria that we deserve. And it must not be the Nigeria that we accept.

“We need to take a new course, a course that is anchored on clarity, discipline, and leadership that puts Nigerians first and restores confidence in our future.”

Drawing on his career, Hayatu-Deen said his approach to leadership is grounded in results and accountability, adding that his work has also included support for education, particularly for vulnerable children.

On leadership, he stressed empathy and inclusion, saying: “A leader must be someone who is a reflection of that society. The first thing is for you to actually assimilate the pains and sufferings of your fellow human beings. Secondly, to create an egalitarian society in which all the needs and wants of society are properly reconciled.”

He acknowledged resource constraints but stressed prioritisation.

“You’re not going to be able to do everything because there are resource constraints, but you’re going to do the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

“There are certain low-hanging fruits, many of the things that people have overcome elsewhere, we still struggle with here. What is required is the discipline and commitment to implement solutions that already exist.”

He urged the media to hold leaders accountable.

His words: “Your job is not just to report events, but to ask the right questions, to demand clarity, and to ensure that those who seek to lead are held to the highest standards.

“I welcome that responsibility. I welcome your scrutiny. Because this campaign must be anchored in truth, in substance, and in accountability.

“I stand before you today with conviction that Nigeria can work again, and that together, we can make it happen.”