Former presidential aide and ex-Senator Babafemi Ojudu has delivered a blunt message to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying hardship, insecurity and rising living costs have become major realities for Nigerians.
In an open letter to Tinubu, Ojudu writes Tinubu about the growing pressure on households and urges the President to take urgent steps to ease the burden on citizens.
Ojudu said Nigerians are struggling to afford food, medicine, rent, school fees and transportation. He said many families have already reduced their spending but still cannot make ends meet.
He described hardship as the defining experience of too many Nigerians.
Ojudu writes Tinubu over worsening hardship
Ojudu said economic progress cannot be measured only through official statistics.
He argued that ordinary Nigerians must feel the impact of any improvement in the economy.
For a parent struggling to pay school fees or buy medicine, he said future promises of relief are not enough.
Ojudu said real progress must put food on the table and keep children in school.
It must also give sick people access to treatment and provide citizens with a reasonable chance to earn a living.
He therefore urged Tinubu to review policies that have increased pressure on households.
Ojudu specifically pointed to fuel prices, transportation costs and the rising prices of basic food items.
He asked the President to direct his team to identify areas where government can provide immediate and measurable relief.
He also called for stronger monitoring to ensure that government interventions reach the people they are designed to help.
Insecurity adds to Nigerians’ economic pain
Ojudu also raised serious concerns about insecurity across the country.
He said economic prosperity means little to people who are afraid to travel, farm or conduct their businesses.
Farmers, he noted, should not have to choose between cultivating their land and protecting their lives.
He said insecurity has also deepened the economic pressure on Nigerians.
Ojudu urged the President to address the fear and suspicion affecting communities across the country.
He said presidential decisions, appointments and public statements should reassure Nigerians that every citizen has an equal place in the country.
Ojudu asks Tinubu to listen to his critics
The former senator also urged Tinubu to widen the circle of people who advise him.
He asked the President to listen to Nigerians who disagree with his administration instead of relying only on those who support his policies.
Ojudu warned that leaders gain little when advisers hide uncomfortable information from them.
He urged Tinubu to seek honest assessments of what is working, what is failing and what needs to change.
He also asked the President to commission an independent assessment of how Nigerians are living and what they think about the government’s response.
Ojudu said such research should go beyond party meetings and official briefings.
Ojudu recalls long relationship with Tinubu
Ojudu’s message carries added weight because of his long relationship with Tinubu.
He recalled their involvement in the struggle against military rule and Tinubu’s campaign for the Lagos governorship.
He also recalled helping to manage Tinubu’s transition and inauguration after his election as governor.
Ojudu said he deliberately returned to journalism rather than seek an appointment in the Lagos State Government.
He wanted to remain outside government so he could speak honestly to Tinubu without seeking personal benefits.
He recalled that Lai Mohammed, who was then Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, sometimes joked about his visits to the governor’s office.
Ojudu said that same spirit of honest criticism influenced his decision to write the President again.
Ojudu reveals how he and Tinubu escaped death
The former senator also recalled a dramatic incident involving Tinubu on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.
Ojudu said the incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. when they were returning from the residence of a senior security official in Ikoyi.
According to his account, Tinubu’s driver, the late Mustapha, fell asleep while driving.
The vehicle reportedly hit the bridge railing.
Ojudu said both men escaped with their lives.
He recalled that Tinubu then asked him to drive them to Alausa, despite knowing that he had never driven an automatic car before.
Ojudu said he managed to get them to their destination safely. The account has since attracted attention because of the long political relationship between the two men.
2027 election: Ojudu demands credible process
Ojudu also placed strong emphasis on the 2027 general election.
He urged Tinubu to ensure that government institutions operate freely and impartially as the election approaches.
He said security agencies must protect voters, candidates and election officials without intimidation or political favour.
He also called for INEC to have the independence and resources needed to conduct the election properly.
Ojudu further urged Tinubu to respect the independence of the judiciary.
He reminded the President that the struggle for democracy was built around the right of Nigerians to choose their leaders freely.
He therefore urged Tinubu to protect that principle during the next election.
Ojudu urges Tinubu to accept Nigerians’ verdict
Ojudu acknowledged Tinubu’s right to seek another presidential mandate.
However, he said Nigerians also have the right to assess the administration based on their lived experiences.
He urged the President to use the months ahead to address the concerns of citizens and ease the burdens they face.
Ojudu also told Tinubu to accept the outcome if Nigerians decide to choose another political direction.
He said there is honour in serving the country and respecting the democratic choice of the people.
The former senator ended his letter by telling Tinubu that he wants him to finish well.
He said he wants Nigeria to emerge from the current difficulties stronger, safer, more united and more democratic.
Ojudu’s message to Tinubu was therefore both personal and political: listen to Nigerians, confront the hardship they face and use the remaining time before the election to act.