Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, stirred fresh controversy this morning with a glowing tribute to his principal.
In a lengthy statement titled "Bola Tinubu: the man who took the bullet for Nigeria to survive," Onanuga defended the administration's three-year record against mounting public criticism.
The piece, shared widely on social media and official channels, comes as many Nigerians report worsening living conditions despite claims of economic gains.
Onanuga wrote: “Bola Tinubu: the man who took the bullet for Nigeria to survive. By Bayo Onanuga. With politicking intensifying ahead of the January 2027 election, opposition politicians have escalated their campaign of misinformation and calumny to diminish the impact and achievements of this administration over the last three years.â€
He continued detailing inherited challenges and reforms, including fuel subsidy removal and naira floatation. The full statement praises state revenue increases, infrastructure projects, and market growth.
Critics, however, see it as tone-deaf propaganda disconnected from ground realities.
Fuel prices have surged dramatically since subsidy removal. Many households now struggle with transport costs that eat deeply into incomes.
Food inflation remains a stubborn issue. Staples like rice, garri, and cooking gas have become luxury items for millions. Market women and families report choosing between meals and other basics.
Insecurity paints a grim picture across regions. Banditry, kidnappings, and attacks persist in states like Kaduna, Zamfara, Borno, and Plateau. Recent incidents include children held for over a week and daily reports of killings.
Electricity supply continues to falter in most areas. Despite promises of improvement, many communities endure prolonged blackouts, forcing reliance on expensive generators.
Public reaction on X (formerly Twitter) has been scathing. One viral post mirroring widespread sentiment reads: “Bayo Onanuga this morning: ‘Bola Tinubu is the man who took the bull£t for Nigeria to survive.’ And yet Nigerians can’t even leave their houses in the morning without being scar£d, ins£curities everywhere, no light, no p£ace in the land, fuel skyrocketed, food prices skyrocketed, children gets k!dn@pped... So where’s the survival exactly?? What’re we surviving?â€
Other users accused Onanuga of spinning "hunger into unproven sentiment" while elites benefit from stock market gains and state allocations.
The administration highlights achievements. Onanuga noted states now pay salaries easily and fund projects. GDP reportedly grew, reserves strengthened, and major roads like the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway advanced.
He quoted governors praising increased FAAC allocations. Nasarawa Governor Abdullahi Sule reportedly said Tinubu “has taken the bullets for all of them.â€
The full statement ends on security: “It has not been all rosy the past three years, especially in the area of making our people safe from the band of bandits and terrorists... The man who has taken the bullets to make Nigeria survive a fiscal disaster is even more willing to take additional bullets to make all Nigerians safe.â€
Yet, data shows mixed outcomes. Food security outlook remains concerning in northern Nigeria due to conflict and high input costs. Inflation hovers around 15 percent, with food variants higher.
Controversies trail the Tinubu administration. Past certificate questions, alleged financial scandals, and recent policy criticisms fuel opposition narratives.
Public trust appears strained. Approval ratings cited in discussions hover in the 37-51 percent range amid cost-of-living pains.
Onanuga's intervention arrives as 2027 politicking heats up. It frames reforms as necessary pain for long-term gain.
Ordinary citizens, however, demand immediate relief. Parents of kidnapped children, jobless youths, and struggling traders see little "survival" in daily battles.
The statement acknowledges early hardships but insists gains are evident. Critics counter that elite metrics mask mass suffering.
Nigeria's story under Tinubu remains deeply polarized. Supporters point to fiscal re-engineering and investor interest. Detractors highlight human costs that feel unbearable.
As one X reaction put it bluntly, the "bullet" seems aimed at ordinary Nigerians rather than taken on their behalf.
Whether Onanuga's praise resonates or backfires could shape narratives heading into future elections. For now, it underscores the wide gulf between official optimism and street-level despair.
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