The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has launched a fierce attack on President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The party accused the government of being dangerously out of touch with the economic struggles of ordinary Nigerians. This follows remarks by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, who dismissed widespread reports of hunger and hardship as exaggerated.
Onanuga, during an interview on Arise Television, claimed that infrastructure projects and government initiatives prove the administration is delivering results. He cited a recent trip from Ibadan to Lagos, where he discovered a newly constructed concrete road along the Ijebu-Ode route. "I found that our people, our Ijebu people, have stopped complaining," he said. "Oh, no wonder they now have a brand-new road, not just an asphalt road but a concrete road." Onanuga also pointed to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, arguing it had reduced travel time for residents in Lagos’ Ajah axis.
ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi rejected these claims in a strongly worded statement. He called Onanuga’s comments "a startling admission of how disconnected the APC government has become." Abdullahi argued that the government’s focus on infrastructure ignores the immediate suffering of Nigerians. "When over 80% of Nigerians are struggling to feed their families, pay school fees, afford transportation and keep their businesses alive, it is extraordinary that a senior presidential spokesman can suggest the hardship is overstated," he said. The ADC insisted the economic crisis is not opposition propaganda but the daily reality for citizens in every state.
The ADC blamed the Tinubu administration’s policies for deepening poverty. "Food prices have soared, transportation costs have multiplied, the value of incomes and savings has been eroded," Abdullahi stated. He added that life is harder for millions of Nigerians than it was when the government took office. The party’s criticism highlights a growing perception that the administration measures success through infrastructure projects rather than economic relief. "Nigerians cannot eat roads," Abdullahi said. "The first responsibility of any government is to create conditions where citizens can afford food, find jobs, and live with dignity."
The ADC’s response reveals a deeper institutional failure in how the government engages with economic realities. The party accused the administration of operating in an echo chamber, insulated from the struggles of ordinary Nigerians. "A sensible government does not measure the effects of its policies by merely looking at the people within its immediate circle or driving through paved roads," Abdullahi said. He argued that the presidency’s inability to recognize widespread hardship raises serious questions about its awareness of citizens’ plight. The ADC’s statement suggests the administration’s communication strategy has become a liability, reinforcing public distrust rather than addressing economic pain points.
This disconnect reflects a structural flaw in the government’s approach to economic governance. While Onanuga cited anecdotal evidence from his travels, the lived experiences of Nigerians tell a different story. Markets across the country report soaring prices for basic staples like rice, beans, and cooking oil. Public transport fares have doubled in many cities, pushing daily commutes beyond the reach of low-income earners. Small businesses, the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, are shutting down at an alarming rate due to rising costs and dwindling consumer spending. The ADC’s criticism underscores a demand for policies that address these immediate challenges rather than long-term infrastructure projects.
The administration’s emphasis on infrastructure also exposes a misalignment between its priorities and citizens’ urgent needs. Roads and highways, while important for economic growth, do not put food on the table or reduce unemployment. The ADC’s argument that "Nigerians cannot eat roads" cuts to the heart of this disconnect. The government’s focus on megaprojects, while ignoring soaring food prices, suggests a leadership that equates development with physical structures rather than human welfare. This approach risks alienating the very people it claims to serve, particularly in a country where millions struggle to afford basic necessities.
The ADC’s statement also raises questions about the administration’s willingness to accept responsibility for its policies. Abdullahi framed the issue as a crisis of leadership honesty. "The question is no longer whether Nigerians are suffering; Nigerians already know that they are," he said. "The real question is whether this government is prepared to acknowledge the consequences of its policies." The party’s demand for accountability reflects a broader frustration with a government that deflects criticism rather than addressing systemic failures. Until the administration confronts the economic damage its policies have caused, the ADC warned, public perception of its disconnect will only deepen.
This controversy arrives at a critical juncture for Tinubu’s government. With nearly three years in office, the administration faces mounting pressure to deliver economic relief. The ADC’s attack is not just political posturing—it reflects a growing consensus that the government’s economic policies have failed. As prices continue to rise and unemployment worsens, the administration’s insistence on infrastructure as a measure of success appears increasingly tone-deaf. The ADC’s challenge is clear: unless the government shifts its focus from roads to economic survival, its legitimacy will continue to erode among the citizens it governs.
