By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Presidency’s response to its recent message on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing the government of ignoring the harsh economic and security realities facing Nigerians.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi on Monday, the party said it was “amused” by the rebuttal issued by presidential aide Sunday Dare, but stressed that the response failed to address the real issues affecting citizens.
Abdullahi said inflation and rising cost of living were no longer abstract concepts but daily struggles for millions of Nigerians. “Inflation is not theory. It is the mother who can no longer afford food, the worker whose salary remains the same while transport fares have doubled, and the small business owner battling rising costs,” he said.
He blamed the economic situation on policy decisions of the current administration, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy, which he said has driven fuel prices up by nearly 500 percent, worsening living conditions across the country.
The ADC spokesman questioned the government’s handling of fuel pricing, asking whether authorities were unable to reduce costs despite global measures adopted by other countries. He proposed immediate steps, including suspending fuel-related taxes and removing import charges to ease the burden on citizens.
On security, Abdullahi described the situation as “even more painful,” citing Nigeria’s position among the most terrorism-affected countries globally and continued attacks across parts of the country. He referenced recent killings in Plateau State, noting that “these are not numbers, but families destroyed in a matter of hours.”
“If defence spending has increased, Nigerians are right to ask why they still feel unsafe in their homes, on their roads, and on their farms,” he said, adding that government rhetoric must match decisive action.
He also criticised what he described as a tendency by government officials to downplay public concerns. “What Nigerians expect is accountability. What we receive instead are lectures,” Abdullahi said, arguing that citizens are often told hardship is necessary without clear evidence of improvement.
According to him, repeated assurances by the government that conditions are improving do not reflect the lived experiences of ordinary Nigerians. “Nigerians are not confused. They know when life is getting harder, when they feel less safe, and when their money no longer goes as far,” he stated.
Abdullahi further accused the administration of failing to take responsibility for current challenges. “The Presidency did not deny the hardship, the insecurity, or the rising cost of living. The only thing it denies is responsibility,” he said.
He warned that continued reliance on explanations rather than concrete results could erode public trust, stressing that Nigerians need policies that ease hardship rather than deepen it.
“A government that continues to blame everyone else but itself cannot be trusted. Nigerians do not need more explanations; they need action,” Abdullahi added.
The ADC maintained that addressing economic hardship and insecurity requires urgent, practical measures, insisting that governance must focus on improving the everyday lives of citizens.
