The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly criticised comments made by Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, regarding the economic hardship facing Nigerians, describing his remarks as insensitive and disconnected from reality.
Drivetvnews gathered that the criticism followed Onanuga’s appearance on Arise Television, where he stated that he did not personally observe the level of hunger and hardship frequently highlighted by Nigerians.
Reacting to the statement, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, argued that the comments reflected a government that has become detached from the experiences of ordinary citizens.
According to Abdullahi, millions of Nigerians are currently struggling with rising food prices, transportation costs, school fees, business expenses and declining purchasing power. He maintained that these challenges are visible across the country and cannot be dismissed as exaggerations.
The ADC spokesman attributed the current economic difficulties to policies implemented by the administration of President Bola Tinubu, arguing that the policies have contributed to increased poverty and financial hardship for many households.
He stated that the suffering being experienced by Nigerians is not a political narrative but a daily reality affecting families, workers, students and business owners nationwide.
Abdullahi further argued that government officials should assess the impact of policies by engaging with citizens across different sectors of society rather than relying on observations from their immediate surroundings.
He also questioned the emphasis placed on infrastructure projects as evidence of economic progress, insisting that while infrastructure development is important, citizens are more concerned about affordability of food, employment opportunities, business sustainability and general living conditions.
According to him, the fundamental responsibility of government is to create an environment where citizens can meet their basic needs and maintain a reasonable standard of living.
The ADC maintained that leadership requires acknowledging public concerns and taking responsibility for policy outcomes. The party urged the Federal Government to recognise the economic difficulties facing citizens and implement measures that directly address rising living costs and declining household incomes.
The statement concluded that comments perceived as dismissive of public hardship could further reinforce concerns among Nigerians that government officials are increasingly disconnected from the realities confronting the population.
