The Presidency has slammed former Nigeria’s Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, over his claim of hunger ravaging the country and his comparison of Nigeria with the unrest in France before the 1789 Revolution.
In what it described as grossly misleading, the Presidency in a statement issued on Monday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, stressed that Atiku is out of touch with positive development in Nigeria.
Onanuga maintained that the ex-Vice President’s statement showed his disconnection from the authentic Nigerian reality.
The presidential spokesperson highlighted recent data that signaled economic development in the country.
According to Onanuga, a report by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released yesterday revealed that inflation has dropped for the fifth consecutive month with trade surplus further recorded.
He also disclosed that the foreign exchange revenue is now edging towards $42 billion as against the $32 billion met by President Bola Tinubu when he assumed office.
While also noting the reduction in Nigeria’s debt profile and increase in Federal allocation to state governments, the Presidency maintained that Nigeria is moving in the right direction.
It alleged that many of the challenges Nigeria face today stem from the economic mismanagement during the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) administration under which Atiku served as Vice President.
The presidency held that Atiku and the PDP are stuck in the past while Tinubu and his team are working relentlessly to correct the errors made by the PDP with bold reforms.
The statement read; “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.”
