Phrank Shaibu, the Special Assistant on Public Communication to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, of "gaslighting" Nigerians who are grappling with severe economic hardship under the current administration.
The war of words erupted after Onanuga responded to criticisms from Shaibu via his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday night, suggesting that Shaibu had a "problem of perception" and only focused on negative developments in the country.
“Phrank, you know your problem? You have a problem of perception and you only see the bad sides, not the positive news,” Onanuga posted.
In a fiery rebuttal on Wednesday, Shaibu rejected Onanuga’s remarks, insisting that Nigerians are not merely misinterpreting events, but are enduring real, worsening hardship.
“Bayo, stop gaslighting Nigerians,” Shaibu wrote on his verified X account. “This isn’t about perception — it’s about pain. And no amount of propaganda can deodorise the stench of this administration’s failure.”
Shaibu listed a series of economic indicators that he claimed have deteriorated dramatically since President Tinubu assumed office in May 2023. According to him, the cost of a bag of rice has surged from ₦28,000 to over ₦80,000, petrol prices have climbed from ₦184 to between ₦700 and ₦900 per litre, and the naira has plunged from ₦460 to as low as ₦1,600 against the U.S. dollar.
He also highlighted skyrocketing electricity tariffs, unaffordable school fees, crumbling healthcare services, and rising transportation costs. “Even pure water — water, Bayo — is now ₦50 per sachet,” he added.
“These are not abstract figures. These are the daily realities of millions. People are skipping meals. Children are dropping out of school. Businesses are shutting down. And what does your government do? Celebrate imaginary progress and cook up numbers nobody can verify,” Shaibu said.
He accused the Tinubu administration of being “cruel, detached, and delusional,” stating that while presidential aides in Abuja “spin fairy tales,” ordinary Nigerians are “in the trenches fighting for survival.”
“There’s no perception problem here, Bayo. The problem is the leadership you shamelessly defend,” he concluded.
The exchange comes as Nigeria continues to struggle with high inflation, currency devaluation, and a rising cost of living, exacerbated by the removal of fuel subsidies and other economic reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration. The situation has sparked increasing criticism from the opposition and widespread frustration among citizens.
Political analysts say the sharp rhetoric underscores the deepening divide between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition, as both sides position themselves ahead of future electoral contests amid growing public discontent.
