Tinubu’s New Yr Message Stuffed with ‘White Lies’ – ADC Chieftain Kenneth Okonkwo
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Kenneth Okonkwo, has strongly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s New Yr deal with, describing it as deceptive and dishonest.
Okonkwo mentioned the president’s message to Nigerians was stuffed with what he known as “white lies” and confirmed a transparent disconnect from the realities confronted by residents throughout the nation.
He argued that the speech did not replicate the {economic} hardship many Nigerians are experiencing.
The ADC chieftain made these remarks throughout a tv interview on Friday. He spoke whereas reacting to the president’s New Yr broadcast to the nation.
In line with Okonkwo, the Tinubu administration has continued to disappoint Nigerians. He mentioned the federal government retains decreasing expectations, solely to fall under them once more.
In his view, the New Yr deal with was one other instance of poor management and weak communication.
He expressed concern over the president’s declare that 2026 would mark the beginning of a stronger part of {economic} progress.
Okonkwo mentioned such an announcement advised that nothing significant had been achieved because the authorities took workplace.
“Effectively, the federal government of Tinubu can not stop to proceed to shock me. Every time I feel they’ve reached the restrict of incompetence, they nonetheless blow that restrict,” he mentioned.
He questioned why a authorities that has spent almost three years in workplace would nonetheless be speaking about “the start” of progress. Okonkwo described the assertion as an oblique admission of failure.
“To begin with, he mentioned 2026 marks the start of a extra sturdy part of {economic} progress. I used to be offended by that phrase, ‘the start.’ Virtually three years into the regime of a authorities. Clearly that’s an admission of failure, as a result of he has truly not begun something,” he added.
Okonkwo additionally faulted the president’s feedback on inflation. He mentioned the figures talked about within the deal with didn’t match on a regular basis experiences of Nigerians.
“You noticed how he embarrassed the world by saying that inflation has come down to fifteen%. Let me state that clearly as a white lie,” he mentioned.
To assist his argument, Okonkwo cited private experiences with rising transportation prices. He pointed to the sharp enhance in airfares as proof that inflation stays excessive and painful.
“Earlier than Tinubu got here in, the very best he might pay of flight ticket from Abuja to Enugu was N57,000. However going to Enugu, I paid N250,000 for a flight ticket, that’s nearly greater than 500% enhance,” he acknowledged.
He accused the president of counting on what he described as questionable statistics whereas ignoring the actual struggles of residents.
Okonkwo mentioned this method was embarrassing for the nation and irritating for Nigerians.
“And the President is sitting down in a New Yr message, telling Nigerians concerning the rebased fraudulent inflation determine. It’s embarrassing and really annoying,” he mentioned.
The ADC chieftain additionally criticised the timing of the president’s remarks. He mentioned making such claims on New Yr’s Day despatched the unsuitable message to Nigerians.
“And after we have been rising up, we have been informed to not lie on a New Yr’s day. Meaning we count on that this President and this authorities goes to lie all year long,” he added.