Economic Boost Sparks Political Shade As Presidency Names Obi, Atiku In Reaction

The Presidency has stated that 2027 presidential contenders, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and other opposition figures, are unwilling to acknowledge what it described as positive developments in Nigeria’s foreign reserves.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

This was disclosed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a post shared on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Saturday.

Onanuga said Nigeria’s foreign reserves climbed to $51.04 billion on June 18, describing it as the highest level recorded in 17 years, while noting that opposition figures have not given the administration due credit.

He added that the reserves stood at $50.5 billion in January 2009, highlighting what he called a significant improvement under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

According to him, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and other opposition leaders continue to overlook what he described as the administration’s achievements.

“Nigeria’s foreign reserves rose to $51.04 billion on June 18, the highest level in 17 years. In January 2009, the reserves stood at $50.5 billion,” Onanuga wrote.

“This is the good news Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar and other presidential candidates don’t want to hear.

“As far as they are concerned, President Tinubu has done nothing since he came to office.

“Yet stubborn facts of the administration’s solid achievements keep hitting them in the face.”

In a related development, former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Professor Usman Yusuf, has commented on the political prospects of Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking in an interview with DCL English, Yusuf said Obi may struggle to gain widespread acceptance in northern Nigeria, arguing that he is not politically “sellable” in the region.

“Peter Obi is not sellable in the North, and this is the honest truth; they don’t want me saying that, but I don’t know how to lie,” he said.

Yusuf added that the major contenders expected in the 2027 presidential race include President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Peter Obi of the NDC.

He further stated that Obi’s record as Anambra State governor, as well as his views on the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), would likely come under scrutiny during the campaign season.