A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and member of its National Working Committee, Kenneth Okonkwo, has launched a scathing attack on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing his administration as a “government of catastrophe” amid worsening economic hardship, rising insecurity and mounting public debt.

Okonkwo made the remarks during an appearance on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Channels Television, where he delivered a blistering assessment of the Tinubu administration nearly three years after assuming office.

The lawyer and opposition politician said Nigerians must confront what he described as the stark realities of the country’s current condition, insisting that the administration’s record so far has brought more hardship than hope.

“First of all, let’s be realistic, this has been three years of catastrophe,” Okonkwo declared.

He accused the President of failing to deliver on key promises to Nigerians, saying the only commitment Tinubu appears to have fulfilled was borrowing heavily as captured in successive national budgets.

“The only thing I can concede to President Tinubu is that in the budget, all the amounts he said he was going to borrow, he borrowed it. That is the only thing he fulfilled,” he said.

Okonkwo also questioned the Federal Government’s debt management approach, accusing the administration of relying on what he described as misleading economic measurements while the country’s productive capacity continues to weaken.

According to him, an economy that is not driven by strong production cannot afford to assess its debt sustainability merely through gross domestic product figures, warning that such an approach could push the country toward a fiscal crisis.

“A government that is not producing anything is now dubiously computing our debts based on GDP,” he said.

“Any country that is not a producing nation, you have to denominate your debt to your revenue because you will run into problems. Soon, you will be bankrupt.”

The former presidential campaign spokesman painted a grim picture of Nigeria’s business environment, arguing that the economic climate has become so hostile that only investors with access to significant foreign currency reserves can hope to survive.

“You have to be a billionaire in dollars for your businesses in Nigeria to survive,” he said.

Okonkwo further alleged that politics has become the only thriving sector under the current administration, claiming that public resources are increasingly being mobilised toward political calculations ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“This is the government of catastrophe. The only viable business is politics,” he said.

He alleged that governors were already mobilising enormous financial resources to support political campaigns, claiming that the administration is determined to eliminate any serious electoral competition in 2027.

“The governors are already budgeting ₦800 billion to support the campaign. That is the only industry that is blossoming under Tinubu because he does not want any contest in 2027,” Okonkwo alleged.

On the issue of national security, the ADC stalwart said the country has witnessed an alarming deterioration, describing Nigeria as a dangerous environment increasingly defined by violence, terrorism and loss of lives.

“Nigeria has become a killing field,” he said.

He added that the country’s global security ranking reflects the severity of its internal challenges.

“You have 195 countries on earth, and Nigeria is the fourth most terrorised nation,” Okonkwo stated.

His comments come amid growing political debate over the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms, debt accumulation strategy, inflationary pressures, exchange rate volatility and the continuing security challenges across several parts of Nigeria.

While the Federal Government has repeatedly defended its economic reforms as painful but necessary steps toward long-term stability, opposition figures such as Okonkwo continue to argue that the policies have deepened poverty, weakened businesses and left millions of Nigerians struggling with the rising cost of living.

The latest remarks are expected to further fuel political discourse as parties begin strategic positioning ahead of the 2027 general elections. (Daily Trust)

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