Former Senate President Wabara Rebukes Tinubu’s Economic Boast, Calls for Urgent Policy Rethink Amid Worsening Hardship

 

Former Senate President and current Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Adolphus Wabara, has taken a hard stance against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent assertion that Nigeria’s economy has been revitalized under his leadership. According to Wabara, the president’s claim is far removed from the everyday reality Nigerians are grappling with.

Calling Tinubu’s remarks a “provocation” to millions enduring worsening poverty, skyrocketing inflation, and deepening food insecurity, Wabara argued that the true state of the economy should not require explanation or persuasion. “If the economy were truly improving,” he said, “Nigerians wouldn’t need to be told—they would feel it in their pockets and in their kitchens.”

Voicing concern over the widening chasm between the administration’s narrative and lived experiences of the people, Wabara emphasized that economic progress cannot be proclaimed into existence. He said real progress manifests in affordable goods, business-friendly policies, and a sense of financial relief for ordinary citizens.

Highlighting the soaring prices of basic commodities and services, Wabara dismissed the government’s economic performance as cosmetic and detached. “The indices don’t lie. People are hungrier now than they’ve ever been. Telling them the economy is better while they struggle to feed is not just misleading—it’s offensive,” he stated.

The PDP elder statesman lamented the increasing burden on citizens caused by policies he described as poorly thought out. Chief among his concerns is the proliferation of taxes, which he said have choked businesses and discouraged entrepreneurial activity. “Multiple taxation is crippling the private sector. Rather than stimulate productivity, the current system stifles innovation and growth,” Wabara warned.

Security, he stressed, must also be treated as an integral component of economic reform. The persistent threat of violence from bandits and criminal herders, particularly in agrarian regions, has displaced countless farmers, leading to food scarcity and driving prices even higher. “A hungry nation cannot be a prosperous one. Until people feel safe to farm and trade, any talk of revival is a hollow echo,” he added.

Critiquing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Wabara accused the party of squandering the economic momentum built during PDP’s years in power. He recalled that during PDP’s tenure, Nigeria held one of the top spots economically on the African continent. “We handed over a robust, growing economy. What we see now is a tragic reversal,” he said.

Though heavily critical of the present administration’s trajectory, Wabara remained optimistic about Nigeria’s economic future. He expressed confidence that the tide would turn once the PDP reclaims power in the 2027 general elections. “This nation is resilient. With the right leadership, Nigeria can bounce back stronger than ever,” he declared.

He called on President Tinubu to use the remaining two years of his term to shift focus from rhetoric to results. Wabara advised a sober review of the government’s economic direction, urging a pivot to practical and inclusive reforms that can directly impact the lives of citizens.

“The next two years must not be wasted on propaganda,” he cautioned. “There is still time for the president to change course and deliver meaningful change. But that begins with acknowledging the truth—not denying it.”

This latest critique adds to the chorus of dissatisfaction among citizens and opposition figures who believe that the economic hardship many Nigerians face is far from over. As inflation bites harder and incomes shrink, analysts argue that government credibility is increasingly tied to the ability to deliver tangible relief—not glowing reports.

While Tinubu’s administration continues to promote its fiscal policies and strategic initiatives as forward-thinking, Wabara’s statements have once again brought the harsh realities of everyday Nigerians into focus. The call now, he insists, is not for more political spin, but for deliberate, compassionate governance that prioritizes the people over party or pride.