Tinubu aide rebukes Abdullahi over criticism
By Muyideen Aliyu, Ilorin
A senior aide to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Sunday Dare, has pushed back against criticism from Bolaji Abdullahi, accusing the opposition figure of “selective amnesia” and attempting to rewrite Nigeria’s recent political history.
In a lengthy post on X, Dare responded directly to Abdullahi, a former minister under ex-president Goodluck Jonathan and now a leading voice in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), following remarks critical of the Tinubu administration.
“There is a certain elegance to your message… but there is also a certain amnesia to it,” Dare wrote, arguing that Abdullahi’s critique ignored his own role in past governments.
The presidential aide said while hardship and insecurity remain real concerns, they predate the current administration. He defended the government’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidies, describing the decision as necessary despite its painful consequences.
“The Tinubu-Shettima administration did not remove subsidy because it was easy. We removed it because it was necessary,” Dare said, adding that what Nigerians experience now is part of a broader correction after years of “artificial” economic policies.
Nigeria has faced rising living costs since the subsidy removal in 2023, with fuel prices surging and inflation squeezing households, a development that has drawn sustained criticism from opposition parties and civil society.
Dare also addressed concerns about insecurity, saying the situation did not emerge overnight and would not be resolved instantly. He pointed to increased investment in intelligence and security coordination, while admitting that more work remains.
“Is it enough? No. Is it nothing? Also no,” he said.
On the economy, Dare maintained that key indicators were improving, citing stabilising foreign exchange conditions and stronger government revenues, though he acknowledged that reforms take time to yield results.
Abdullahi, a prominent opposition spokesman, has in recent months been vocal in criticising the Tinubu government, questioning its handling of insecurity and accusing it of being out of touch with citizens’ realities.
The exchange reflects intensifying political rhetoric ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the ADC positioning itself as a growing opposition platform challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Dare, however, dismissed claims that Nigeria’s democracy is under threat, noting that open criticism such as Abdullahi’s demonstrates that democratic space remains active.
“A democracy that permits this level of dissent is not shrinking, it is alive,” he said.