Worst of economic crisis over, says Tinubu campaign spokesperson

An All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council spokesperson, Hajia Kemi Asekun-Shittu, has acknowledged that Nigerians’ poor understanding of President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies could pose a challenge to his re-election bid but expressed confidence that it would not cost him victory despite persistent hardship and rising living costs, adding that the worst of the crisis was over.

Asekun-Shittu spoke during an exclusive interview with our correspondent on Sunday in Abuja while defending the President’s economic decisions ahead of the 2027 general election.

When asked whether Nigeria had overcome the economic difficulties or whether citizens should expect another four years of hardship, Asekun-Shittu expressed confidence that the worst of the crisis was over.

She said, “To a very large extent, the worst is behind us. And even the World Bank has said that, if we stay the course, this poverty level that had continued to rise, well before President Muhammadu Buhari even came on board, has finally gotten to an end, and that it is no longer rising.

“It has now stayed at one level. And that if we stay the course, it will start to decline. I think that is what we should hold on to.”

She said the administration was intensifying efforts to explain its economic reforms to citizens, arguing that although the policies have caused difficulties, they were necessary to prevent a deeper economic crisis.

Asked whether the economic hardship being experienced by Nigerians could become the biggest obstacle to Tinubu’s re-election, she said a lack of understanding of the administration’s policies could create problems for the ruling party.

She said, “A lack of understanding of the current economic situation may be an obstacle. And that is why we will not stop explaining. Yes, if people do not understand, then it can become a problem.

“Which is why Mr President said, ‘You know what, my disciples, please go out there and help people understand these policies better. That’s why we are here.”

The campaign spokesperson defended the pace of the administration’s reforms, comparing the time required for economic recovery to the nine-month period of pregnancy.

According to her, Nigerians must understand that the benefits of the government’s policies could not be achieved immediately, despite the difficulties associated with their implementation.

She said, “Nobody who has ever nursed a pregnant woman, or has ever been pregnant, will fail to understand the fact that regardless of how excited you are about wanting a child, regardless of how important it is for you to have a child, if you do not wait the nine months out, you will not be able to have a child.

“And I think that’s the part of it we are trying to help Nigerians understand. Nigerians are some of the most amazing people on earth. Quick to understand, if you can explain it to them clearly, which is what we’re doing now.”

Tinubu’s economic policies, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market in May 2023, have triggered significant changes in the country’s economy, including higher transportation costs, increased food prices and pressure on household incomes.

The administration has maintained that the reforms are necessary to eliminate longstanding distortions, improve government revenue and create a more sustainable economic environment.

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However, the rising cost of living has remained a major concern for households, businesses and organised labour, with many Nigerians questioning when the expected benefits of the reforms will translate into improved living conditions.

Asekun-Shittu argued that the economic difficulties confronting the country predated Tinubu’s administration, insisting that the President inherited an economy already heading towards a crisis.

She said, “The challenge that Nigeria is facing today was not brought about by President Bola Tinubu. Yes, he just happened to be at the tail end of that challenge.

“If you check online, over the years, different people at different times have mentioned that we were headed for a big problem. But there’s a huge problem that we are going to partake in if we do not attend to certain issues.”

She argued that several prominent Nigerians, including Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo; former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Lamido Sanusi; and former Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had previously warned about the dangers of allowing the economy to continue on its previous trajectory.

According to her, the fact that opposition politicians had also promised to address some of the country’s economic challenges showed that the need for reforms was widely recognised.

She said, “And those issues, almost everybody who is contesting against President Tinubu has also said they will work on them. Almost all of them have said, yes, it is true, we will deal with this.

“And so, if all of us agree that there is a problem, and somebody was bold enough to treat it, shouldn’t we commend the person?”

The APC spokesperson further maintained that the President’s understanding of the country’s economic challenges informed his decision to implement the reforms despite the political consequences.

He said the President acted as a leader in confronting the challenges instead of behaving like the usual politicians who would kick the can down the road into their second term before dealing with serious issues.

She said the ruling party would continue to explain the rationale behind the policies rather than abandon them because of public dissatisfaction.

Her comments come as the ruling APC prepares for the 2027 general election, with the economic performance of the Tinubu administration expected to feature prominently in the campaign.

The President’s re-election bid is likely to be tested against the public’s experience of inflation, unemployment, declining purchasing power and the cost of essential goods and services.

Although the administration has pointed to improved government revenue, increased foreign exchange liquidity and other macroeconomic developments as evidence of progress, the extent to which these gains have improved household welfare remains a central issue in the national debate.

She also highlighted the stability in tertiary education since the President took office as one major positive development for Nigerian youths, as promised by the President during the campaign, that a four-year course will be four years only.