Onanuga Defends Tinubu's Speech Against Opposition Criticism

Bayo Onanuga, who serves as the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, condemned opposition politicians for their criticisms of Tinubu’s Independence Day speech delivered on October 1. Onanuga asserted that these politicians had prepared their responses prior to the speech's airing on network television and radio, indicating they did not engage with its content.

He highlighted what he termed an “immutable truth” from the speech, which stated that the economic reforms initiated by Tinubu did not create the weaknesses in Nigeria's economy but rather confronted them. Onanuga urged resistance against calls to revert to previous economic practices, specifically the use of subsidies.

He noted that Nigeria's economic outlook has improved, with growth exceeding 4 percent this year, driven by contributions from both oil and non-oil sectors.