President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken a swipe at opposition figures over their role in Nigeria’s failed electricity privatisation, accusing them of plunging the country into “darkness” while his administration works to restore reliable power.
Speaking at a political gathering on Tuesday, President Tinubu argued that some of today’s opposition leaders previously supervised the privatisation of the power sector but failed to deliver stable electricity to Nigerians. “We have leaders who have privatised electricity that is not working. They gave us darkness,” he said, lamenting that Nigerians are still battling the consequences of those policies.
He insisted that his government is focused on “building a nation of bright hope and joyful people” and on leaving future generations “a life worthy of pride,” despite inherited challenges in the energy sector. Tinubu also dismissed his critics, saying, “They don’t even believe in the democracy they preach, don’t pay attention to them,” in a remark widely seen as a jab at key opposition figures who have recently attacked his economic and energy reforms.
The President’s comments come amid a renewed political battle over privatisation records and performance in critical sectors such as power, steel and oil, as both the government and opposition trade blame ahead of the 2027 general elections. His allies argue that ongoing electricity reforms and planned investments will gradually improve supply, while opposition leaders counter that the administration has yet to translate its promises into tangible relief for households and businesses.
