Atiku’s Aide Blasts Tinubu Govt: “Only Thing Growing in Nigeria Is Hardship”

Phrank Shaibu, Special Assistant on Public Communication to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has launched a scathing attack on President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of ignoring the daily suffering of ordinary Nigerians amid soaring inflation and economic hardship.

Shaibu’s statement followed comments by Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, who dismissed widespread criticism of the economy as mere “perception problems.” Onanuga, responding to Shaibu via his X (formerly Twitter) handle, had said:

“Phrank, you have a problem of perception. You only see the bad sides, not the positive news.”

In a fiery rebuttal posted Wednesday, Shaibu described Onanuga’s remarks as “gaslighting,” insisting that Nigerians are not imagining their pain they are living it.

“Bayo, stop gaslighting Nigerians,” Shaibu fired back. “This isn’t about perception it’s about pain. And no amount of propaganda can deodorize the stench of this administration’s failure.”

“School fees are now unaffordable. Hospitals demand upfront deposits before treating patients. Even pure water the most basic item now sells for ₦50 per sachet,” Shaibu said.

He accused the Tinubu government of being completely out of touch with the realities on ground, claiming it celebrates “imaginary progress” while the masses endure hunger, job losses, and failing public services.

“Children are dropping out of school. People are skipping meals. Small businesses are shutting down. Yet your government keeps pushing a false narrative of economic recovery,” he added.

In one of his most biting remarks, Shaibu stated:

“The only thing growing in Nigeria today is hardship and your nerve to tell Nigerians they aren’t seeing clearly.”

He concluded by calling the administration “cruel, detached, and delusional,” asserting that no media spin could cover up what he described as the failure of Tinubu’s economic policies.

The exchange is the latest in a series of bitter exchanges between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition voices, as the country battles a worsening cost-of-living crisis driven by currency devaluation, high fuel prices, and inflation.