(DDM) – The Presidency has strongly countered former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s warning that hunger in Nigeria could fuel a revolution.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, issued the rebuttal on Monday.
Onanuga dismissed Atiku’s comments as “grossly misleading” and “out of touch with Nigeria’s current realities.”
He faulted Atiku’s reference to historical revolutions such as the French Revolution of 1789 and the 1917 Bolshevik uprising in Russia.
Onanuga described the comparison as a deliberate attempt to exaggerate Nigeria’s present challenges.
According to him, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) proves the nation is making measurable progress.
He said headline inflation had declined for five consecutive months, offering relief signals for the economy.
Onanuga also pointed out that Nigeria recently posted a trade surplus, with non-oil exports now accounting for nearly 48 percent of trade balance.
He added that foreign exchange reserves had risen to nearly $42 billion, compared to $32 billion when Tinubu took office.
Over $7 billion in arrears had also been cleared, including $800 million owed to foreign airlines, Onanuga revealed.
The presidency further noted that state governments are now able to pay salaries and gratuities on time.
According to Onanuga, many states even have surplus funds to invest in capital projects and social programmes.
He described these developments as unprecedented and proof that Nigeria is “moving in the right direction.”
The statement accused Atiku and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of clinging to “doomsday scenarios and revolutionary rhetoric.”
Onanuga argued that today’s economic woes largely stem from mismanagement under previous PDP administrations.
He noted that Atiku served as Vice President during one of the most wasteful periods in Nigeria’s history.
In contrast, Onanuga said Tinubu has spent just over two years in office, yet has already recorded tangible reforms.
He praised Tinubu’s government for undertaking bold but necessary economic adjustments to stabilise the system.
Atiku, however, stood by his warning in a statement released through his media office on Monday.
He argued that hunger and poverty remain widespread despite government claims of progress.
Atiku warned that worsening deprivation is driving Nigerians towards insecurity, criminality, and social unrest.
He said history proves that revolutions are often triggered by hunger and governmental insensitivity.
Atiku cited the French and Russian revolutions as well as the Arab Spring as examples.
He also recalled Nigeria’s 2020 EndSARS protests, which he said were partly fuelled by economic frustration.
The former Vice President insisted that Tinubu’s reforms lack a human face and worsen the plight of the poor.
He said food insecurity remains a daily challenge and that government policies have deepened suffering.
Atiku maintained that after two years in power, Tinubu has yet to show capacity to fix poverty.
Since 2023, Tinubu has introduced major reforms, including fuel subsidy removal and floating the naira.
Critics say these measures worsened inflation and hardship, while supporters argue they are necessary for long-term growth.
The war of words between Atiku and the presidency signals deeper political battles ahead of 2027.
With hunger and inflation still central issues, the debate over Nigeria’s future direction is far from over.
