The Presidency has dismissed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s assertion that hunger is ravaging the country, insisting that Nigeria is on the right path under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership.
In a statement issued on Monday, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the Tinubu administration is proud of the progress achieved so far, stressing that many of the current challenges were inherited from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) era when Atiku served as Vice President.
Atiku had earlier criticised the government for what he described as widespread food insecurity and poverty, questioning the administration’s ability to address the crisis more than two years into its tenure.
Responding, Onanuga accused Atiku of being out of touch with developments in the country. He described comparisons of Nigeria’s current situation to the unrest in pre-revolutionary France and Russia as “grossly misleading.”
“Talk is cheap. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his handlers are clearly out of touch with the positive developments currently unfolding in our country,” Onanuga stated.
He cited fresh data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), noting that headline inflation had declined for the fifth consecutive month, with the latest figures showing improvements in trade balance and foreign reserves, which have climbed from $32 billion to nearly $42 billion since President Tinubu assumed office.
Onanuga further highlighted record non-oil export contributions, prompt payment of salaries and gratuities by states, and increased revenues under the current administration as evidence of a turnaround.
“Nigeria is moving in the right direction,” he said. “After just two years and five months in office, we are proud of the progress being made under President Tinubu’s leadership.”
He urged Nigerians to disregard “doomsday scenarios” and “revolutionary rhetoric” from Atiku and his allies, assuring that the government’s bold reforms would deliver sustainable growth and development.
