Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State has criticised the Federal Government’s economic policies, arguing that they are inflicting severe hardship on Nigerians.
 
But the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, insists that the economic reforms being driven by President Bola Tinubu are already showing cheering results.
 
Toeing Fintiri’s line, a former member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC), Salihu Lukman, vowed to campaign against President Bola Tinubu and the APC-led administration in 2027.
 
Speaking at the North East Zonal meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Reconciliation Committee in Bauchi State, Fintiri did not mince words about the economic realities faced by the people.
 
“Nigeria is bleeding. We are suffering. There is too much anger, and the FG’s economic policy is not working,” he declared, highlighting the growing frustration among citizens over rising inflation, unemployment and the general decline in the standard of living.
 
The governor stressed the urgent need for a policy shift, urging the Federal Government to reconsider its approach to economic management. He warned that the continued implementation of ineffective policies would only deepen the suffering of Nigerians and widen the gap between the government and the people.
 
“Whatever will make us cry must not be part of your policy because the country belongs to us; it does not belong to the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) or the international community,” Fintiri asserted, suggesting that foreign-driven economic models might not be suitable for Nigeria’s unique socio-economic realities.
 
His statement underscored the growing sentiment that government policies should prioritise local needs over external economic prescriptions.
IDRIS said the economy “is beginning to turn the corner” and that the Federal Government would use this year to consolidate all the reforms the Tinubu administration embarked upon.  He also expressed optimism that by the end of the year, the economy would be a lot better.
 
Confirming that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting approved 101 memos, e said 34 were approved on Monday, day one of FEC, while additional 67 were considered by the cabinet members yesterday, which also got express approval.
 
While briefing newsmen about the memos considered, Idris noted that infrastructural development was the quickest and easiest way to reflate the economy, as many Nigerians would be engaged in the construction sites.
 
“The government of President Tinubu is listening to the public and ensuring that the economy comes back to life.
 
“The reforms are working; the economy is beginning to turn the corner and is a year of consolidation of all the reforms that Tinubu and his administration have embarked upon. We believe, by year-end, the economy will be a lot better,” he said.LUKMAN, who supported Tinubu and campaigned for his emergence, said the President had arrogantly derailed from the promises he made to Nigerians.
 
Speaking on Arise TV’s ‘The Morning Show’, yesterday, the ex-APC chieftain challenged the President to prove him wrong.  Explaining why he supported Tinubu’s presidential ambition, Lukman said he was convinced then that the former governor of Lagos State was a true democrat and progressive leader.
 
He said, “I had the conviction that Tinubu is truly a progressive politician and a democrat, which was why I invested my support in him. But once I saw him departing from those beliefs I had, I didn’t wait any longer. I was not pushed by anybody; I am humble enough to admit that my judgment was wrong. 
 
“It is a challenge for the President to prove many of us wrong, and if he did so, I would be the first to come out and apologise again that I was wrong, but to the extent that he continues arrogantly in the direction he’s going, without remorse that he has departed from all the promises he made to Nigerians, I have no apology to him, and I will continue to stand and campaign against both the APC and his administration.”
 
Lukman, who recently joined the call for a coalition to unseat Tinubu in 2027, advised opposition leaders to play competitive politics to take power from the APC in 2027. 
 
In a piece entitled ‘Re: Early Outline of the Permutations for 2027’, he expressed confidence that Nigerians could stand up to politicians and win the struggle for a competitive political contest.