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Former military Head of State Yakubu Gowon speaks on President Bola Tinubu’s leadership,while the APC rejects ADC’s claim that Nigeria’s poverty rate has risen to 63%.

Gowon Speaks on Tinubu’s Leadership as APC Fires Back at ADC Over Poverty Claims

Former military Head of State Yakubu Gowon has expressed strong support for the leadership of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the Nigerian president is doing well across multiple sectors of governance.

Gowon, who ruled Nigeria between 1966 and 1975, spoke with journalists after paying a courtesy visit to the president at the Presidential Villa Abuja.

The elder statesman said Nigeria is making progress under Tinubu’s leadership and expressed satisfaction with the direction of governance.

When asked what areas the president should improve as his administration continues, Gowon declined to single out any particular sector.

Instead, he said Tinubu appears to be addressing national challenges comprehensively.

“Isn’t he doing the best he can all round?” he asked rhetorically.

“So there is no particular place; every other area — political, economic, social, etc.”

Gowon acknowledged the complex security challenges confronting Nigeria but maintained that the president is taking steps to tackle them.

“And, of course, the major problem that we have today, the security area, he’s doing everything to deal with those for the good of all Nigeria,” he said.

According to him, national leadership requires managing several priorities at the same time.

“He’s got to look after the interests of Nigeria in all areas, and I’m happy about that,” Gowon added.

The former head of state also emphasised that resolving the nation’s challenges ultimately rests with the government.

“If I say that the problem that is happening today, it is only the government today, that’s Mr. President that can really deal with it, and he is dealing with it the best he can without creating any problem for Nigerians and for the country,” he said.

He expressed optimism that the government’s efforts would eventually bring stability to the country.

“The government is handling it the best it can to ensure that Nigeria, in the end, achieves the peace that it deserves, that it requires and it deserves.”

The visit comes amid ongoing consultations between President Tinubu and key national leaders on governance, security, and national development.

Meanwhile, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly criticised the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) over claims that Nigeria’s poverty rate has surged to 63 percent.

The ADC based its claim on an Agora Policy dialogue report, which suggested that the country’s poverty rate increased from 49 percent to 63 percent.

In response, APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka accused the opposition of “mischievously misleading Nigerians.”

Speaking in a statement in Abuja, Morka dismissed the criticism as a reflection of what he described as the opposition’s misunderstanding of the government’s economic reforms.

Morka defended the administration’s decision in May 2023 to remove the fuel subsidy and unify foreign exchange rates.

According to him, the previous systems created a major fiscal burden and encouraged corruption and cross-border smuggling.

He said the policies had drained up to 90 percent of national revenue, making economic reform inevitable.

While acknowledging that Nigerians initially experienced hardship due to the reforms, Morka insisted that the measures were necessary to correct longstanding structural distortions in the economy.

To support its argument, the APC cited macroeconomic indicators showing signs of recovery.

According to the party, Nigeria’s economy grew by 4.4 percent last year and the growth is projected to reach 5.5 percent this year. It explained further that the foreign reserves have surpassed $50 billion, the highest level in nearly two decades and added that food inflation has dropped to a 13-year low while non-oil exports exceeded $6 billion in 2025.

Morka also said higher revenue allocations are now reaching state and local governments, enabling development at the grassroots level.

The APC further highlighted ongoing government initiatives aimed at cushioning the effects of the reforms.

These include cash transfer programmes, student loan schemes, and the rollout of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiatives to reduce transportation costs.

The ruling party insisted that the Tinubu administration remains committed to rebuilding Nigeria’s economy and delivering long-term stability for citizens. Read More