Phrank Shaibu, Special Assistant on Public Communication to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has issued a scathing response to recent remarks by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy. In a strongly worded statement, Shaibu accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of presiding over a regime defined by economic hardship, misinformation, and failed promises.
Shaibu’s rebuttal comes after Onanuga dismissed the growing coalition of opposition leaders—including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, and Rotimi Amaechi—as “political refugees.” In response, Shaibu declared that these leaders are “political refugees only in form, not in influence,” and are uniting to rescue Nigeria from what he described as “urban bandits” in power.
“No amount of propaganda can cover hunger. No PR can spin poverty. Fuel is unaffordable, the naira has collapsed, and food prices have become a daily affliction,” Shaibu stated.
He further accused the APC of weaponizing state institutions, stifling dissent, and failing to deliver on basic governance. According to Shaibu, the Tinubu administration has become synonymous with economic collapse, insecurity, and a widening gap between the government and the people.
Highlighting the growing frustration among Nigerian youths and the middle class, Shaibu warned that the 2027 general elections would serve as a referendum on Tinubu’s leadership. He emphasized that the opposition is learning from past mistakes and is now more united and strategic in its approach.
“The Urban Bandits may have mocked their hashtags, but they will soon learn that hashtags grow into hurricanes,” he added.