The Presidency has faulted former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his recent comments on the state of the nation, describing his claims of widespread hunger as misleading and inconsistent with current realities.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement, dismissed Atiku’s assertions, stressing that they do not reflect the positive developments unfolding in Nigeria.
In a statement posted on his X handle, Onanuga described the comparison of Nigeria’s situation to the unrest in France before the 1789 Revolution or the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution in Russia as grossly misleading.
Economic indicators
He said that such assertions reflect a disconnect from the positive developments currently underway in the country and highlighted recent economic indicators that suggest progress under President Tinubu’s administration.
Mr Onanuga insisted that recent data showed positive progress under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“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.
“Their claim that hunger is ravaging Nigeria, and their comparison of our situation to the unrest in France before the 1789 Revolution or the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, is grossly misleading,” Mr Onanuga stated.
The Presidential Spokesperson highlighted the recent trade surplus report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which showed that non-oil exports now contribute nearly as much to the nation’s trade balance as crude oil, with a close ratio of 48:52 percent.
Mr Onanuga also disclosed that the nation’s foreign exchange reserves are now on the rise, approaching $42 billion.
He said; “Their latest statement demonstrates a disconnect from the authentic Nigerian reality, as recent data tells a different story. Just today, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released its figures for August, showing that headline inflation has declined for the fifth consecutive month.
“Over the weekend, the NBS also reported a record trade surplus, with the contribution of non-oil exports to our trade balance now nearly matching that of crude oil at a ratio of 48:52 per cent.
“Our foreign exchange reserves are on the rise, now approaching $42 billion. When President Tinubu assumed office, reserves stood at $32 billion, much of it encumbered.
“When President Tinubu assumed office, reserves stood at $32 billion, much of it encumbered. This administration has since cleared over $7 billion in arrears, including $800 million owed to airlines.”
According to him, “This administration has since cleared over $7 billion in arrears, including $800 million owed to airlines.
Mr Onanuga said that under President Tinubu’s administration, Nigeria is recording unprecedented revenues with State governments now been able to pay salaries and gratuities promptly, “and still have surplus funds for capital and social projects—an achievement not previously witnessed at this scale.
Right direction
He further asserted that Nigeria is moving in the right direction in contrast to former Vice President Atiku and his party, the People’s Democratic Party and being fixated on doomsday scenarios and revolutionary rhetoric.
Mr Onanuga highlighted that many of the challenges facing the country in most recent years stemmed from what it described as “economic mismanagement during the PDP years, when Atiku was Vice President.”
“Nigeria is moving in the right direction. In contrast, Atiku and his party remain stuck in the past, fixated on doomsday scenarios and revolutionary rhetoric. Ironically, many of the challenges we face today stem from the economic mismanagement during the PDP years, when Atiku was Vice President.
He affirmed that “President Tinubu and his team are working relentlessly to correct those errors, with bold reforms.”
He said that just two years and five months in office, we are proud of the progress being made under President Tinubu’s leadership.
He added that Atiku and his allies may choose to ignore these gains, but Nigerians can see and feel the positive changes taking place across the nation.
Lateefah Ibrahim