Onanuga’s ‘No Hunger’ Comment Shows Tinubu Government Is Out of Touch

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of being disconnected from the realities confronting ordinary Nigerians following comments by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga regarding hunger and hardship in the country.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party described Onanuga’s remarks as insensitive and reflective of what it called the prevailing attitude within the current administration.

The ADC said the comments suggested that the government was increasingly detached from the struggles of millions of Nigerians facing rising living costs, declining purchasing power and worsening economic conditions.

According to the party, the hardship being experienced across the country is evident and cannot be dismissed as exaggerated or politically motivated.

“Those comments are not merely insensitive; they are a startling admission of how disconnected the APC government has become from the realities of the people it governs,” Abdullahi stated.

The party argued that many Nigerians are struggling to meet basic needs, including feeding their families, paying school fees, covering transportation costs and sustaining businesses.

“When over 80 per cent 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 publicly suggest that the hardship is somehow overstated or contrived,” the statement said.

The ADC attributed the country’s economic difficulties to policies introduced by the Tinubu administration since it assumed office in May 2023.

The party specifically pointed to the removal of fuel subsidy and the liberalisation of the foreign exchange market, arguing that their implementation had contributed to rising inflation and increased poverty levels.

According to Abdullahi, soaring food prices, higher transportation costs and shrinking household incomes have become daily realities for many Nigerians.

“This is not opposition propaganda. It is the daily lived experience of ordinary Nigerians in every state of the federation,” he said.

The ADC further maintained that the comments demonstrated a government insulated from the realities of life outside official circles and unable to fully appreciate the impact of its policies on citizens.

“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. It must listen to the people in the markets, on the farms, in the classrooms, in the workshops and in the streets,” Abdullahi added.

While acknowledging that the government might point to infrastructure projects as evidence of progress, the opposition party argued that economic well-being remains the most important measure of governance.

“The first responsibility of any government is to create economic conditions in which citizens can afford food, find jobs, run businesses and live with dignity. On this most fundamental test, the Tinubu administration has failed,” the statement concluded.

The ADC’s reaction followed recent comments by Onanuga, who questioned widespread narratives about hunger and hardship in the country and argued that ongoing government interventions and economic indicators reflected a more positive picture of Nigeria’s economy.