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Special advisors about information and strategies to the President, Bayo Onanuga, and Special Assistant Public Communication to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Frank Shaibu, exchanged words following the new comments made by the President of the African Development Bank (AFDB), Akinwumi Adesina, where he compared the current Nigerian economy with 1960.
Adesina, at an event during the weekend, condemned the economic policy of the Tinubu government for the management of the country’s economy, stating that Nigerians were worse and poorer in 2025 than in 1960, while warning that the country’s economy could not grow with generators.
Adesina made a controversial statement while delivering the main speech at the 20th anniversary of Hill Denham Chapel in Lagos.
In his speech, he stressed that the current Nigerian GDP per capita of $ 824 marked a sharp decline of $ 1,847 in 1960, showing a deep regression in the country’s economic welfare.
Also Read: ‘Not Consistent With Notes,’ Adesina’s Presidential Error Error on Nigerian Economy
But as a reaction to criticism by the AFDB boss, Onanuga, in a statement on Sunday night, said Adesina demonced the country by making a wrong and wrong claim.
Among other things, Onanuga described Adesina’s figures as inaccurate, with the reason that they were inconsistent with verified historical records.
“According to the available data, Nigerian GDP in 1960 was $ 4.2 billion, and per capita income for a population of 44.9 million was around $ 93 – not $ 1,847 quoted by Dr. Adesina,” Onanuga said.
However, when responding to the President’s attack on Adesina on X on Monday, Shaibu said the former Minister of Agriculture stated facts on land
“Dr. Akinwumi Adesina is right. Nigeria is worse today than in 1960 – asking 133 million Nigerians who lived in poverty,” Shaibu wrote.
“Dispose of nominal GDP from 1960 without adjusting inflation either is ignorance or rotation. Real analysts use numbers that are tailored to PPP-and and that size, Nigeria has declined.
“Life expectancy? Only 52 years. Unemployment? Sky-High. Naira? Collapsed. Cell phones do not improve hunger or electrical cutting.
“GDP that picks cherries and telecommunications statistics while ignoring the increasing inequality, poverty, and institutional collapse is not only dishonest-that’s cruel.
“Stop Gaslighting Nigeria. People -people feel the pain that Adesina talked about. That is the real data … Should you attack everyone?” Shaibu asked Onanuga at the post.
In his response, the president’s spokesman attacked Shaibu and wrote:
“You are really sad, phrank. Why are you not ready to accept facts and vice versa like to devour falsity? No matter how you adjust the 1960 GDP numbers, Nigeria today is far better than Nigeria in 1960.”
As expected, Shaibu replied with the following:
“Mr. Gadus, your response is the master class in intellectual laziness and intentional ignorance.
“To be honest, that you think that shallow comparisons attach to debate based on information. Instead of spewing half-cooked statistics, try to understand the quality of life, institutional decay, and potential broadcasting that defines Nigeria today.”
At another post, Shaibu said:
“Around the numbers of GDP without context does not erase destroying poverty, insecurity, and damaged systems experienced by millions of Nigerians every day – far worse conditions than what our founders imagine.
“Telling you to think, adjusting numbers can cover several decades of very large leadership failures.
“Accept that facts – and stop humiliating yourself with blind nonsense and cheers.”
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