Bayo Onanuga says ordinary Nigerians are praising Tinubu — but which Nigerians exactly?

Bayo Onanuga, the President's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, came out yesterday to insist that ordinary Nigerians are praising Bola Tinubu's reforms. He said they toured the southeast last week and people were commending the President. He mentioned that states now have more money to build schools, roads, and health institutions because of Tinubu's policies. He also claimed that allowing the naira to find its true value is working, citing IMF or World Bank saying 1,100 naira is the real rate, even though we are still at 1,300 something.

Now, I am a retired civil servant from Ibadan. I have seen governments come and go. I know the difference between propaganda and reality. When Onanuga says ordinary Nigerians are praising Tinubu, I ask myself — which ordinary Nigerians? The ones buying fuel at 700 naira per litre? The ones whose children cannot pay school fees because the naira has lost over 60% of its value since 2023? The ones who cannot afford to travel for Sallah because transport fares have tripled? I do not doubt that some people are praising the President — there will always be beneficiaries of any system. But to claim that the majority of ordinary Nigerians are happy is a stretch too far.

Onanuga also said insecurity is exaggerated by the media and that Nigeria is not under siege. He said some ministers are using personal funds to run their offices. If that is true, then why are we still borrowing to pay salaries? Why are states like Kaduna and Plateau still recording kidnappings weekly? The Electricity Act he mentioned is a good step, but power generation has not improved to the point where businesses can rely on it. The truth is, reforms cause pain — that is normal. But the question is whether the pain is leading anywhere visible. So far, the macroeconomic indicators he talks about have not translated to better living conditions for the average person. Am I the only one who finds this disconnect disturbing?