The Presidency on Thursday mocked leaders of the opposition coalition, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; former Anambra State governor and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi; ex-Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai; and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, following the announcement that Nigeria’s foreign reserves had risen to $41 billion.
The four politicians are prominent figures in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a new coalition seeking to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections. The group has repeatedly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, arguing that they have yet to yield real benefits for Nigerians.
Reacting in a statement posted on Facebook, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga attributed the reserves milestone to what he described as prudent economic management under Tinubu’s administration.
“The latest milestone was reached without our country having a massive inflow from oil sales. Indeed, oil prices are sliding southwards. It’s all about the prudent management of the economy by President Bola Tinubu,” Onanuga wrote.
He added that opposition leaders were unwilling to acknowledge the achievement, claiming they were fixated on dislodging the President.
“I can bet that Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai and Babachir Lawal would never acknowledge this remarkable success. They are more interested in their doomed campaign to overthrow Bola Tinubu. This obsession has blinded them from recognising the progress being delivered by President Bola Tinubu’s government on multiple fronts,” he said.
