Phrank Shaibu, Atiku Abubakar’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, and Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, have argued over a comparison of the country’s economy in 1960 and today.
According to reports, Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), denounced the present administration’s economic policies during an event.
Nigerians are poorer and in worse shape in 2025 than they were in 1960, according to the chief of the AFDB. Additionally, he cautioned that Nigeria’s economy cannot expand using generators.
In a statement, the Presidency compared Adesina’s remarks to those of Peter Obi and said that they were untrue and inaccurate.
Shaibu praised former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Agriculture Minister for presenting the facts in response to the Presidency’s attack on Adesina.
The doctor, Akinwumi Adesina, was correct. As evidenced by the 133 million Nigerians living in poverty, the country’s situation has deteriorated since 1960.
“It is either ignorance or propaganda to throw out the nominal GDP from 1960 without accounting for inflation. PPP-adjusted numbers are used by real analysts, and Nigeria has fallen by that metric.
“Life expectancy? Only fifty-two years. Not working? Extremely high. The naira? fell apart. Power outages and hunger cannot be solved by mobile phones.
It is not only dishonest, but also cruel to cherry-pick GDP and telecom statistics while disregarding growing poverty, inequality, and institutional disintegration.
Put an end to deceiving Nigerians. The suffering Adesina described is felt by the populace. That is the actual facts. Do you have to attack everyone? Onanuga was questioned by Shaibu about who had leaked the state on his 𝕏 handle.
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Onanuga responded back, “Phrank, you are just pathetic.” Why do you people prefer consuming lies over accepting the truth? Nigeria now is far superior to Nigeria in 1960, regardless of how the 1960 GDP statistic is adjusted.
Undeterred, Atiku’s assistant responded to Tinubu’s assistant in this way: “Mr. Gadus, your response is a masterclass in willful ignorance and intellectual laziness.” To be honest, it’s pitiful that you believe that repeating superficial analogies constitutes intelligent discussion. Try to comprehend the standard of living, institutional deterioration, and the obvious waste of potential that characterize Nigeria today rather than repeating half-baked numbers.
Throwing about GDP numbers out of context doesn’t make up for the debilitating poverty, instability, and dysfunctional systems that millions of Nigerians live with on a daily basis—situations that are far worse than what our founding fathers had in mind. Your belief that changing the numbers can cover up decades of disastrous leadership failures is absurd.
“Accept that fact—and stop embarrassing yourself with this blind, cheerleading nonsense.”
