The Presidency has rejected claims by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) that Bola Ahmed Tinubu is in his “final year in office,” describing the assertion as unfounded and politically motivated.
The response came as the President marked his 74th birthday, amid criticisms from the opposition party over the state of the economy, rising fuel prices, and security challenges.
ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, had in a birthday message criticised the Tinubu administration and suggested the President was approaching the end of his tenure.
However, reacting via his X handle, the President’s Special Assistant on Social Media, Olusegun Dada, dismissed the statement as “wishful thinking,” stressing that leadership in a democracy is determined by voters, not political commentary.
“And that line about ‘as you celebrate your final year in office’ says more about wishful thinking than political reality,” Dada stated.
He further argued that the ADC’s critique relied on sweeping generalisations rather than a balanced assessment, adding that accountability must be rooted in fairness, context, and accuracy.
According to Dada, key national challenges such as rising fuel costs and insecurity are longstanding issues that predate the current administration. He noted that the removal of fuel subsidy was a deliberate policy to address persistent fiscal pressures, while security concerns require sustained and coordinated national efforts.
In a similar response, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital Media, O’tega Ogra, accused Abdullahi of “selective amnesia” and attempting to “reinvent history.”
“You speak of hardship as though you discovered it. You speak of insecurity as though it began yesterday,” Ogra said, suggesting that some critics were part of past decisions shaping current realities.
While acknowledging the economic hardship faced by Nigerians, Ogra maintained that the challenges were inherited and not unique to the Tinubu administration.
“For years, we subsidised illusion, deferred reality, and allowed rent-seekers to take hold of our commonwealth,” he said, describing the fuel subsidy removal as a difficult but necessary reform with long-term benefits.
On security, Ogra emphasised that Nigeria’s challenges are complex and cannot be attributed to a single administration, noting that efforts are ongoing to improve coordination and operational effectiveness.
“Is it enough? No. Is it nothing? Also no,” he added.
He also dismissed claims that Nigeria is drifting toward a one-party state, arguing that the level of open criticism directed at the government demonstrates the resilience of the country’s democracy.
“A democracy that permits this level of dissent is not shrinking; it is alive, imperfect, noisy, contested, but alive,” Ogra said.
The presidential aide described the current phase of governance as one of “correction” and “transition,” insisting that while challenges remain, the country is making progress.
“We are not where we want to be, but we are no longer where we were,” he said.
