The Presidency has criticised former Vice-President Atiku
Abubakar over his claim that hunger may trigger a revolution under President
Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Tinubu’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, described Atiku’s remark
as “talk is cheap,” insisting the former Vice-President and his team are out of
touch with Nigeria’s current progress.
In a statement on X, Onanuga said Atiku’s comment reflected
a disconnect from reality.
According to Onanuga: “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.
“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. This administration has since cleared
over $7 billion in arrears, including $800 million 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.
“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.”
