33 Governors Can’t Be Wrong Backing Tinubu — Onanuga

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has defended the President’s economic record, arguing that the support of 33 state governors reflects confidence in his administration.

Onanuga made the remarks on Friday while reacting to a television discussion on Arise News in which presenters questioned the extent of Nigeria’s economic progress since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.

In a post on his social media account, the presidential aide accused some television anchors of promoting the opposition’s position that little or nothing had improved under the current administration.

“Thirty-three governors cannot be wrong in casting their support for President Tinubu,” Onanuga said, describing the country as making what he called significant economic progress.

He cited falling food prices, improving foreign exchange availability, rising foreign reserves and renewed foreign investment as evidence of the administration’s economic gains.

On food prices, Onanuga claimed that a bag of rice, which previously sold for about ₦120,000, was now available for less than ₦50,000. He added that the price in his hometown had fallen to approximately ₦45,000.

The presidential spokesman also said Nigeria’s foreign reserves were approaching $60 billion and argued that businesses had better access to foreign exchange for importing raw materials, machinery and other equipment.

He further maintained that Nigerians could now use naira-denominated bank cards for transactions abroad, presenting the development as an improvement in access to international payment services.

Onanuga also disputed suggestions that returning foreign investors were mainly portfolio investors, arguing that foreign direct investment was bringing capital into the country and creating jobs.

His comments came amid broader political support for Tinubu’s re-election bid ahead of the 2027 general elections. Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo had similarly described the backing of 33 governors as an unusually broad political consensus.

However, the governors’ endorsement does not by itself establish the extent of economic improvement experienced by households and businesses. Food prices, inflation, foreign exchange conditions and investment figures remain important indicators for assessing the effects of government policies.

The National Bureau of Statistics publishes data on inflation and other economic indicators used to evaluate changes in the cost of living and broader economic performance.

Onanuga maintained that critics should acknowledge the administration’s reported gains rather than dismiss its economic reform programme.