A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr. Kenneth Okonkwo, has strongly criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his New Year message to Nigerians, accusing him of lying about the state of the economy. Okonkwo said the President’s comments show that the government will continue to mislead Nigerians throughout 2026.
Okonkwo made these remarks on Friday while appearing on Sunrise Daily, a breakfast programme on Channels Television. He was reacting to President Tinubu’s New Year address, in which the President spoke about economic recovery, inflation, and the future of the country.
According to Okonkwo, the President’s message was filled with what he described as false claims and clear signs of failure after almost three years in office.
Speaking during the programme, Okonkwo said he was no longer surprised by what he described as the poor performance of the Tinubu administration.
“Well, the government of Tinubu cannot cease to continue to surprise me,” he said. “Each time I think they have reached the limit of incompetence, they still blow that limit.”
He described the President’s New Year message as disappointing and misleading, especially at a time when many Nigerians are struggling with rising costs of living, unemployment, and economic hardship.
President Tinubu, in his address, said 2026 would mark “the beginning of a more robust phase of economic growth.” However, Okonkwo said this statement was an admission that the government has failed so far.
Okonkwo questioned why the President was talking about the “beginning” of growth nearly three years into his administration.
“First of all, he said 2026 marks the beginning of a more robust phase of economic growth,” Okonkwo said. “I was offended by that phrase, ‘the beginning.’ Almost three years into the regime of a government, that is obviously an admission of failure, because he has actually not begun anything.”
He argued that Nigerians were promised immediate action and relief when Tinubu took office, especially after the removal of fuel subsidy and changes to foreign exchange policy. Instead, he said the policies have made life harder for ordinary citizens.
One of the strongest criticisms from Okonkwo was directed at the President’s claim that inflation has reduced to 15 per cent. According to him, this statement does not reflect the reality faced by Nigerians.
“You saw how he embarrassed the world by saying that inflation has come down to 15 per cent,” Okonkwo said. “Let me state that clearly as a white lie.”
To support his argument, Okonkwo shared a personal example to show how prices have increased under the current administration.
“Before Tinubu came in, the highest I could pay for a flight ticket from Abuja to Enugu was N57,000,” he said. “But going to Enugu now, I paid N250,000 for a flight ticket. That is more than a 500 per cent increase.”
He said such sharp increases in prices clearly show that inflation is still high and that the government’s figures do not match the reality on the ground.
Okonkwo described the President’s statement on inflation as embarrassing, both for Nigerians and for the country’s image internationally.
“The President is sitting down in a New Year message, telling Nigerians about rebased fraudulent inflation figures,” he said. “It’s embarrassing and very annoying.”
He argued that many basic goods and services, including food, transportation, rent, and school fees, have become more expensive since Tinubu took office. According to him, these everyday experiences matter more than official statistics.
In a cultural reference, Okonkwo said lying on New Year’s Day sends a bad signal about what lies ahead.
“When we were growing up, we were told not to lie on a New Year’s day,” he said. “That means we expect that this President and this government are going to lie throughout the year.”
He added that leadership should be based on honesty and transparency, especially at a time when Nigerians are losing trust in government institutions.
Kenneth Okonkwo is a lawyer, actor, and politician. He became popular in the Nigerian film industry before moving fully into politics. He was once a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) but later left the party.
During the 2023 general elections, Okonkwo was part of the Labour Party presidential campaign team and was a vocal supporter of Peter Obi. He later joined the African Democratic Congress, where he has continued to speak against the Tinubu administration.
President Tinubu came into office in May 2023 with promises to reform Nigeria’s economy. One of his first major actions was the removal of fuel subsidy, followed by changes to the foreign exchange system.
While the government has said these policies are necessary to fix the economy in the long term, critics argue that they have caused hardship for millions of Nigerians.
Inflation, high cost of living, and a weak naira have remained major concerns. Many households are finding it difficult to afford basic needs, while businesses complain of rising costs and low consumer spending.
Okonkwo’s comments have added to the growing public debate over the state of the economy and the credibility of government claims. While some Nigerians agree with his views, others believe the government should be given more time to see results.
Supporters of the President argue that economic reforms take time and that early signs of recovery should be encouraged. However, critics insist that Nigerians deserve honest communication and immediate relief.