…Again, Verbal Missiles Fly Over Economy, Security and Democracy
By Yinka Giwa
A fierce political confrontation unfolded on Tuesday as leading opposition figures used the African Democratic Congress (ADC) National Convention in Abuja to launch sweeping criticisms of the administration of President Bola Tinubu, prompting an immediate and blistering response from the Presidency.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi led the charge against the Federal Government, raising concerns over democracy, rising debt, worsening insecurity, and economic hardship.
However, the Presidency, through Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, dismissed the criticisms as “cheap talk,” accusing ADC leaders of lacking credibility and attempting to “weaponise” national challenges for political gain.
Atiku Abubakar alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was being manipulated to undermine democracy, singling out its chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, for criticism.
“I will not end these remarks without indicting the chairman of INEC and INEC itself because it is clear, it is obvious, the evidence is there: INEC is being used to scuttle democracy in this country,” Atiku declared.
“Now, let the Federal Government know that we fought the military to bring democracy to this country, and we are going to fight them to bring democracy to this country.
“Let the chairman know we are not going to let him get away with his illegalities; we will not, and I hope we will have your support and cooperation to make sure we return to true democracy, to true development in all aspects of human endeavour.”
The former PDP presidential candidate further claimed that under Tinubu, “Nigeria’s economy, security, education, and others are gone,” urging Nigerians to demand “genuine and sincere change.”
Peter Obi focused on Nigeria’s rising debt profile, warning that the country was on a dangerous trajectory despite the removal of fuel subsidy.
“When this government came into being, they removed subsidy on petroleum. The reason was to stop borrowing to service it and use the resources to develop the country. But today, despite that removal, the government has continued borrowing,” Obi said.
“The previous administration left a debt of about N87 trillion. Today, we are close to N200 trillion. That means they have borrowed over 130 per cent more, despite removing subsidy.”
He added: “At the same time, contractors are being owed, and no projects in the 2025 budget have been funded. We have huge debt and have borrowed more on everything. We are heading to disaster.”
Warning of broader consequences, Obi said: “The reason I used these figures is to show that we are drifting. We all have to work hard and do whatever is possible. Anarchy consumes everybody. We must make sacrifices for the sake of our children.”
He also raised concerns about national unity and security, stating: “We need to work as a united Nigeria. The country is so divided, and unity is important. The present government has ensured that we remain more divided.”
On insecurity, Obi added: “If you check the index today, when this government came into being, Nigeria’s ranking in terrorism was around 80. Today, we are number four. If this continues for another four years, we could become number one.”
Rotimi Amaechi delivered a stark warning on insecurity, likening the situation in parts of Nigeria to civil war conditions.
“I watched yesterday in Nasarawa—people were running away from their community like in a civil war. The civil war image came back to my head,” he said.
Reflecting on his time as governor, Amaechi stressed decisive leadership: “When I was governor of Rivers State, you couldn’t commit a crime, and I would sleep. I wouldn’t sleep until you were arrested. All of us would stay awake until the person was caught.”
He criticised what he described as federal inaction: “Your citizens are trekking from one place to another like in a civil war, and you are doing nothing. A leader must be in front during crises. If you don’t want to be in front, then step aside and allow another person to lead.”
On the economy, Amaechi warned of worsening hardship: “The taxes they’ve imposed—wait until June when they start collecting annual company taxes. Nobody will be able to buy petrol; nobody will be able to feed.”
He added bluntly: “Let me repeat, if Nigerians are not hungry, I am hungry. The situation is bad; it is terrible.”
In a direct swipe at Tinubu, Amaechi said: “How can a man who said he is a democrat, who fought on the side of NADECO, be stopping democracy? These people don’t care. What they care about is money.
“The man doesn’t care… They are using the institutions of government against the people of Nigeria… In one of his statements, he said, ‘Let the poor breathe.’ Are the poor breathing?”
Responding, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga launched a scathing counterattack, particularly targeting former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola, who had also criticised the Tinubu administration at the convention.
“No, Rauf. The real scammers are the politicians inside the SPV called ADC,” Onanuga said.
He described the ADC convention as “illegal” and its participants as “desperados and power mongers who, to date, have not articulated any credible plan for Nigeria.”
“At the event, Aregbesola reportedly called on his former boss, mentor, and benefactor to resign, parroting the opposition’s warped narratives about the economy and orchestrated reports of terrorist attacks in some parts of the country,” he stated.
Onanuga accused Aregbesola of hypocrisy, saying: “Unfortunately, Aregbesola did not undertake any honest self-reflection on his own record in public office—as governor or as Minister of Interior.”
He added: “His eight years as governor of Osun State were characterised by unmitigated hardship… civil servants went unpaid for months, and those who were paid received only a fraction of their salaries.”
“It is to Aregbesola’s infamy that Osun became known as a state receiving negative federal allocation and paying just 20 to 30 per cent of normal salaries,” he said, adding that “many pensioners… died because they were not paid at all.”
Onanuga further criticised Aregbesola’s tenure as Interior Minister: “His tenure witnessed the highest number of jailbreaks in Nigeria’s history—including the infamous Kuje Prison escape.”
“For someone who failed so woefully… it is ironic that Aregbesola now seeks to lecture others on insecurity. Maybe he thinks the entire Nigerian population suffers from amnesia,” he said.
He accused opposition figures of exploiting insecurity for political advantage, stating: “Because they have no credible programme, they are weaponising the isolated terrorist attacks, as if the problem started from this administration.”
Defending the government’s record, Onanuga said: “The Tinubu administration has never shied away from acknowledging that policy reforms have brought unintended consequences.”
He listed measures taken by the government: “Increasing the minimum wage by over 100 per cent, making cash transfers to the vulnerable, assisting small-scale enterprises, and reducing inflation to less than 15 per cent from over 25 per cent at the start of the reforms, with food prices crashing.”
On security, he added: “The government has been investing in more and more equipment for the military and has sought assistance from foreign governments to battle the inherited scourge of terrorism and banditry.”
Insisting that the administration’s economic agenda was delivering results, Onanuga said: “The administration’s Renewed Hope Programme is on track and has received global praise.
“We have seen the effects of how it has increased GDP and our foreign reserves, made our country the toast of investors, and made our stock market bullish and prosperous.”
He concluded: “No, Rauf, the Renewed Hope Agenda is not a scam. The real scammers are the politicians gathered inside the SPV called ADC.”
The sharp exchange underscores deepening political tensions ahead of future electoral contests, with both sides staking competing claims over Nigeria’s economic direction, security situation, and democratic integrity.