Falz: Tinubu's Government Doesn't Deserve Another Term in 2027

Nigerian rapper and activist, Folarin "Falz" Falana, has slammed President Bola Tinubu’s government. He believes the administration has not earned the right to seek re-election in the upcoming 2027 general elections.

Falz shared his thoughts during an interview on Arise News on Tuesday. He talked about the government's performance, the need for electoral reforms, and why voter participation is crucial.

When asked if the current administration has earned the patience of Nigerians with its reforms, Falz said no. He argued that many people have yet to feel any positive changes.

"I think not. They might say all those things, but we can’t actually see. We can’t feel it. Nobody can feel it. If you ask the average person out there on the streets what they’re feeling, they’re feeling the inflation. They’re feeling the rising cost of living. They’re feeling the difficulties. They’re feeling poverty. People are suffering," he said.

Criticism of Security and Promises

Falz also pointed out the country's security issues. He said many Nigerians still feel unsafe.

"It’s insecurity that we’re feeling. We’re not safe. We can’t go outside. I can’t say I want to take a trip down to Ekiti now because I don’t know what’s going to happen on the road," he added.

He stated that the administration has failed to meet even the expectations set by President Tinubu himself before taking office.

"The president, by himself, before coming into office, said in his own words that if he didn’t ensure that we had 24-hour power, that we shouldn’t vote him in for the second term. Even by the standard that he set for himself, he has failed. I think they have not earned the right to come back into office," he said.

Falz made it clear that he did not openly support any political candidate or party during the 2023 elections. He said his goal was to encourage Nigerians to take part in the democratic process instead of endorsing a specific politician.

"Just a point of correction, I’ve never, in 2023 or at any point, openly supported any politician or political party. I’ve only actively encouraged people to go out to vote and let their intentions be known," he said.

Call for Young Nigerians to Vote

He added, "What I clamour for is a free and fair democratic process. That people let their intentions be known and that people go out to vote."

Falz explained why he avoids backing politicians publicly. He said he is careful because he feels the country keeps recycling the same politicians.

"We’ve been going in cycles, and it just seems like almost the same crop of people. We keep on reshuffling, and at the end of the day, it’s tough even to sit anywhere and vouch for a Nigerian politician," he said.

Falz is also working with the Go Nigeria Civic Initiative alongside Atedo Peterside, Bishop Matthew Kukah, and Aisha Yesufu. He urged young Nigerians to get involved in elections.

Addressing the belief that elections are rigged and votes do not count, he argued that politicians’ actions show that votes are still important.

"If our votes didn’t matter, these people wouldn’t be making all these moves. If our votes didn’t matter, there wouldn’t be people paying for them. There wouldn’t be vote buying if it didn’t matter," he said.

He added that a high voter turnout could make it harder to manipulate election results.

Falz also called for reforms in the electoral process, especially the real-time transmission of election results. He believes these steps would boost trust in elections.

Despite his criticism of the government, Falz remains hopeful about Nigeria’s future. He plans to keep encouraging civic participation.

"I refuse to embrace pessimism. I refuse to be let down. I will continue to believe that we can get to that place that we hope that we get to."