Atiku Media Office Condemns Tinubu's Bayelsa Remarks on Fuel Prices
The Atiku Media Office has issued a strong response to recent comments by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Bayelsa, where he attempted to justify Nigeria's deepening economic hardship by comparing fuel prices with other nations. In a statement released by Mr Phrank Shaibu, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to Atiku, the office labeled this narrative as misleading and a severe distortion of the daily struggles faced by Nigerians.
Flawed Economic Comparisons Highlighted
The statement expressed concern over President Tinubu's focus on petrol prices as a measure of economic comfort, while neglecting more critical indicators such as purchasing power, income levels, and overall cost of living. It argued that this selective approach either shows a fundamental misunderstanding of economic realities or a deliberate effort to divert attention from policy failures. Although petrol prices in Nigeria might be lower than in countries like Kenya and South Africa, the statement emphasized that such comparisons are invalid when viewed in the proper economic context.
Nigeria's Higher Cost of Living Exposed
According to the statement, Nigeria is currently more expensive to live in than Kenya, with a significantly higher cost of living despite lower fuel prices. It highlighted the decline in earning power, noting that Kenya's GDP per capita is nearly double that of Nigeria. A minimum wage earner in Nairobi earns approximately ₦170,000, which is more than twice Nigeria's ₦70,000 minimum wage, placing Nigerians under severe economic strain. In effect, while a Kenyan earns more and pays more, a Nigerian earns far less and is forced to survive under crushing economic pressure. This is the reality the President chose to ignore, the statement said.
Criticism of Minimum Wage Structure
The statement also criticized Nigeria's rigid national minimum wage system, pointing out that unlike Kenya's tiered approach, it fails to account for regional variations in cost of living, thereby exacerbating the burden on urban residents. It stressed that affordability is determined not by price alone but by the relationship between income and expenditure, and on this measure, Nigerians have never faced worse conditions.
Call for Honest Leadership
Expressing disappointment, the statement noted that at a time when citizens need empathy, clarity, and decisive leadership, President Tinubu has resorted to what it described as statistical convenience. A government that relies on selective comparisons while its citizens grapple with rising poverty, inflation, and declining living standards risks appearing not only out of touch but indifferent, it added. The Atiku Media Office urged the administration to confront the full scope of the economic crisis rather than rely on arguments that collapse under scrutiny, emphasizing that Nigerians deserve honesty and better governance.
