The National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolaji Abdullahi, has criticized recent comments by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, describing them as evidence of a government that is increasingly disconnected from the realities facing ordinary Nigerians.

According to Mr Bolaji Abdullahi, Mr. Onanuga’s remarks go beyond mere insensitivity and amount to a troubling admission of how far removed the APC administration has become from the daily struggles of the people it governs.

He argued that at a time when millions of Nigerians are grappling with rising food prices, transportation costs, school fees, and the challenge of keeping small businesses afloat, it is difficult to understand how any government official could suggest that the hardship being experienced across the country is exaggerated or contrived.

He maintained that Nigerians are not fabricating their suffering. Rather, he said the current cost-of-living crisis is the direct consequence of what he described as ill-conceived and poorly executed economic policies introduced by the Tinubu administration.

According to him, food prices have risen dramatically, transportation costs have multiplied, and the value of incomes and savings has been significantly eroded. He noted that many Nigerians who were previously able to cope economically are now facing severe financial distress.

He emphasized that these realities are not political talking points but the everyday experience of ordinary citizens across the federation.

He further stated that Mr. Onanuga’s comments raise concerns about whether the government truly understands the impact of its policies on the population. He argued that a responsible government should assess its performance not through the experiences of those within its immediate circles, but through engagement with citizens in markets, farms, classrooms, workshops, and communities across the country.

According to Mr Bolaji Abdullahi, if the Presidency genuinely cannot see the hunger and hardship that Nigerians continue to speak about, then it raises fundamental questions about how closely it remains connected to the people.

While acknowledging that the APC government may point to infrastructure projects as evidence of progress, Mr Abdullahi argued that such achievements cannot substitute for economic wellbeing. He noted that roads and other physical infrastructure, regardless of their value, do not address the immediate challenge of affordability confronting millions of Nigerians.

“The first responsibility of any government,” he stated, “is to create economic conditions in which citizens can afford food, find jobs, run businesses and live with dignity.”

On that measure, he argued, the administration has fallen short of expectations.

Mr Bolaji Abdullahi further contended that after three years of promises, explanations, and repeated appeals for patience, many Nigerians believe their standard of living has deteriorated rather than improved.

He stressed that the central issue is no longer whether Nigerians are suffering, as that reality is already evident to citizens across the country. Instead, he said, the more important question is whether the government is prepared to acknowledge the consequences of its policies and accept responsibility for the outcomes.

According to him, comments such as those made by Mr. Onanuga risk reinforcing the growing perception that the APC administration is out of touch with ordinary Nigerians and unwilling to confront the economic challenges its policies have created.

He concluded by emphasizing that leadership begins with honesty and that meaningful solutions can only emerge when government recognizes the realities facing the people and responds accordingly.