In a nation where communities devastated by banditry, kidnappings, and mass killings often receive little more than official statements and security assurances, former presidential candidate and chieftain of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, is increasingly projecting himself as a different kind of national leader — one who believes leadership requires physically standing with citizens in their darkest moments.
From communities in Plateau State to those in Oyo State and Ekiti State, Adebayo has embarked on a series of condolence and solidarity visits that supporters describe as the conduct of a “president-in-waiting”—a leader who not only speaks about insecurity but also personally visits affected communities to comfort victims, offer hope, and reassure citizens that they have not been forgotten.
At the centre of Adebayo's message is a philosophy he repeatedly emphasises wherever he goes: “Democracy is not about discussion but participation.”
For Adebayo, leadership is not measured solely by speeches delivered from Abuja or carefully crafted official statements. Rather, he argues that governance requires direct engagement with the pain, fears, and struggles of ordinary Nigerians. It is this belief that has shaped his recent nationwide condolence and solidarity visits.
A Politics of Presence
In the Angwa Rukuba community in Plateau State, where deadly nighttime attacks reportedly left several residents dead and many families grieving, Adebayo did more than issue a statement of sympathy.
He travelled to the affected area, met with bereaved families, listened to residents recount their experiences, and reportedly offered financial assistance.
“The people of this community are saddened and battered, but they will not leave this land. God is always responsible, even if the government is not,” he said during the visit.
His remarks reflected both compassion for victims and frustration over what he described as repeated failures of governance.
Adebayo argued that those terrorising communities across Nigeria are neither more powerful nor more intelligent than the institutions of the state, insisting that insecurity persists because leaders have failed to prioritise justice and the protection of citizens.
For many residents, the significance of the visit lay not only in the message delivered but also in the symbolism of a national political figure physically appearing in a community experiencing profound grief.
Criticism of Tinubu's Security Leadership
The same message accompanied Adebayo to Ibadan, Oyo State, where he met with Governor Seyi Makinde amid concerns over kidnappings and insecurity in Oriire Local Government Area.
During the visit, Adebayo openly criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing him of failing Nigerians on security matters.
“President Tinubu has failed in his duties as Commander-in-Chief,” he declared.
Beyond criticising the President, however, Adebayo used the occasion to elaborate on his philosophy of participatory leadership. According to him, the office of the president is not ceremonial, and a Commander-in-Chief should not become disconnected from the suffering of the people.
That conviction, he says, explains why he continues to physically visit troubled communities rather than reacting from afar.
Taking Comfort to Ekiti Victims
In Eda-Oniyo, Ekiti State, following attacks on worshippers and the reported abduction of church members by armed bandits, Adebayo again travelled to the community to identify personally with victims and their families.
He condemned the killings and kidnappings, insisting that Nigerians should not be forced to live permanently in fear.
Describing the recurring attacks across the country as evidence of a failure of governance, Adebayo maintained that the Nigerian state must be rebuilt around its primary responsibility of protecting lives and property.
To him, insecurity is not merely a security challenge but a moral test of leadership.
Contrasting Approaches to Leadership
President Tinubu has also visited some affected communities and repeatedly condemned attacks in states including Plateau, Benue, Niger, and Kwara. His administration has launched security operations, deployed troops, and promised justice for victims.
However, critics argue that the federal government's responses have become predictable condemnations, security deployments, and official assurances, while killings and abductions continue in several parts of the country.
Adebayo became particularly vocal following Tinubu's condolence visit to Yelewata and surrounding communities in Benue State after a deadly massacre.
He criticised the President for not visiting the actual scene of the killings, arguing that explanations relating to poor road conditions were insufficient for a Commander-in-Chief.
He also faulted what he described as the politicisation of the visit, expressing concern that political endorsements reportedly overshadowed the mourning of victims.
According to Adebayo, condolence visits should serve as opportunities for leaders to share directly in the pain of citizens rather than become political events.
'This Is What I Will Do as President'
Perhaps the clearest indication of Adebayo's political strategy emerged when he was asked how he would approach leadership differently if elected president.
His response was straightforward: Nigerians are already witnessing the approach he intends to adopt.
According to him, these condolence and solidarity visits represent the style of leadership he would bring to office.
“This is what I would be doing as president, attending to the problems of insecurity and physically being with my people. That is what a chief executive officer and Commander-in-Chief does,” he said.
The statement encapsulates the image Adebayo appears determined to build ahead of the 2027 presidential election—one of accessibility, empathy, and visible engagement with citizens.
At a time when many Nigerians complain about a widening disconnect between political leaders and the people they govern, Adebayo's emphasis on participation rather than discussion positions him as a politician seeking to build a reputation around presence, compassion, and direct engagement.
Across grieving communities from Plateau to Ekiti, the SDP leader is steadily crafting a political identity centred on empathy, physical presence, and the belief that leadership should bring hope directly to the people—not merely statements from a distance.
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