‘They Don’t Tell The President The Truth’ – Agada Fires Onanuga Over ‘Level Of Hunger’ In Nigeria

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Director of New Media and Strategic Communications, Theo Abu Agada, has fired back at the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, over his claims that things are not as bad in Nigeria as some people paint them to be.

Agada, while reacting to Onanuga’s statement, said that people like Onanuga who surround the President don’t tell him the truth.

The NDC chieftain maintained that things are not well with Nigerians as millions of citizens go to bed hungry.

He insisted that Tinubu has been an absolute failure as the President of Nigeria.

“These are the people President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is listening to.

“These people tell him every day that all is well with Nigerians, while singing his praises.

“They don’t tell the president that millions of Nigerians go to bed every day hungry.

“They don’t tell the president the truth that he has been an absolute failure,” Agada wrote on his 𝕏 Account on Wednesday in reaction to Onanuga’s statement.

It would be recalled as earlier reported by Naijaonpoint that Onanuga declared that the situation is not as bad in Nigeria as some people make ot appear.

According to him, the administration of President Bola Tinubu has also introduced several policies and programmes to cushion the effect of hardship on citizens.

The presidential spokesperson argued that the reality across Nigeria is not the same as many critics paint it to be.

Onanuga made the submission on Tuesday during an interview with Arise Television.

He cited examples of the students’ loan fund, single-digit loan facilities to workers and several road and infrastructural projects to back up his claim that the level of hunger often projected by critics is not the actual reality in Nigeria.

During the interview, Onanuga recalled a recent journey from Ibadan to Lagos where he witnessed a newly constructed concrete road in Shagamu, stating that the experience is evidence that travel experiences have improved for many Nigerians.

“One day I was traveling from Ibadan to Lagos, and Google Maps told me that there’s a go-slow in the approach to Lagos, and I decided to take Ijebu-Ode via Shagamu. What struck me most was that I just found myself on a paved road, concrete road. I said, ‘Wow, when was this one built?’” he said.

He added that the road had changed public perception of locals in the area.

“I found that our people, I mean, our Ijebu people, have stopped complaining. I said, ‘Oh, no wonder they now have a brand new road that’s not just an asphalt road, a concrete road,” the presidential media aide stated.

Onanuga also mentioned the impact of the coastal highway project, saying it has reduced travel time for residents and is part of the benefit Nigerians are enjoying from the Tinubu administration.

“I live in Ajah. Anytime I go to Lagos, and I ask Google Maps to tell me how soon I will get home, Google Maps will tell me one hour, seven minutes. Before, it was two hours, 30 minutes, and the reason for that is that we now have a coastal road that has shortened my travel time,” he said.

“Is that not beneficial? What are people talking about really?”

Onanuga argued that workers can now access low-interest credit facilities, and parents don’t have to worry about the financial stress of funding children in universities, as the government has made the student loan scheme available.

“If you are a parent and you have four children in university, and they’re able to access federal loan, which is interest free, are they not benefiting?

“If you are a civil servant and you can access the credit card, very cheap loan at below interest, it is about seven per cent. Now people can access that loan at single digit. Are they not benefiting as well?” Onanuga asked.

The presidential media aide argued that several conclusions about happenings in Nigeria are based on assumptions and narratives driven by people with a particular agenda, which often overlook the positive developments.

“We have been pigeonholed into certain assumptions, certain conclusions,” he said.