Nigerian presidential aide, Bayo Onanuga, has criticised former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, over his statement on the current state of the nation, dismissing his claims as “grossly misleading.”

The former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections, had in a statement issued on Monday through his media adviser, Paul Ibe, warned that worsening poverty and hunger in the country could spark social unrest similar to the French, Russian, and Arab Spring revolutions.

He argued that after more than two years in office, there were “no manifest signs that this government is capable of addressing the grim issue of severe hunger staring the poor in the face.”

Reacting in a statement shared on his X handle, Onanuga, the Special Adviser to President on Information and Strategy, said Atiku and his handlers are “out of touch with the positive developments currently unfolding in our country.”

According to Onanuga, recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows a different story, citing the decline in headline inflation for the fifth consecutive month, a record trade surplus, and rising foreign exchange reserves, which have approached $42billion.

“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 is a significant achievement,” Onanuga boasted.

He also noted that the administration has cleared over $7billion in arrears, including $800million owed to airlines.

“Under President Tinubu, Nigeria is recording unprecedented revenues. States are now 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,” he stated.

Onanuga attributed the current challenges to economic mismanagement during the PDP years when Atiku was Vice President.

He praised President Tinubu’s administration for working relentlessly to correct those errors with bold reforms.

Onanuga concluded that Nigerians can see and feel the positive changes taking place across the nation, despite Atiku’s claims of hunger and economic woes. He said, “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. President Tinubu and his team are working relentlessly to correct those errors, with bold reforms.

“After just two years and five months in office, we are proud of the progress being made under President Tinubu’s leadership. Atiku and his allies may choose to ignore these gains, but Nigerians can see and feel the positive changes taking place across the nation.”

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