Former Minister of Youth and Sports and current Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications to President Bola Tinubu, Sunday Dare, has defended the Tinubu administration’s policy direction, addressed rising criticisms, and assessed the president’s re-election chances ahead of 2027.
Speaking on this week’s edition of the Mic on Podcast with Seun Okinbaloye, Mr. Dare described the administration as reform-focused and committed to laying a solid foundation for national recovery. “Nigerians are going through a lot and the cost of living is high, but we’ve also seen inflation easing down in recent times. This presidency is about reforms. “We are beginning to see a clear path to economic recovery.”
Mr. Dare dismissed the notion that President Tinubu is detached from the realities on the ground, insisting the president is fully aware of the sacrifices citizens are making. “The president is not detached from the sacrifices that Nigerians are making… He sees his assignment as serious, not as a journey to populism.”
On the state of the nation’s democracy, Mr. Dare described the current moment as one of consensus-building and institutional strengthening. He praised the political maturity of the opposition coalition but questioned its credibility, while asserting that there is no panic anywhere within the APC over the alliance.
“Where have they (Atiku, El-Rufai, Amaechi) earned the legitimacy or power to speak for the Nigerian people?”
Responding to concerns about regional discontent, particularly in the North, Mr. Dare rejected claims of a monolithic opposition against Tinubu, insisting with confidence that the president still enjoys wide popularity. “The idea that the North is monolithic is erroneous. The mandate he (President Bola Ahmed Tinubu) got is a Nigerian mandate. He is popular and will be re-elected in 2027.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Dare, the image maker of the President, speaking about his personal political ambition, ruled out any plans to contest the 2027 governorship election in Oyo State. Reflecting on the Tinubu administration’s performance so far, he rated it 6.5 out of 10, citing recalibrated economic indicators and a renewed national direction as signs of progress.
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