2027: ‘Let Moody’s Vote for Tinubu, Nigerians Will Vote Atiku’, ADC Youth Wing Tackles Onanuga
MAIN POINTS:
*‘Will Moody’s Pay My Rent?’
*‘Economic Grammar Cannot Deceive Hungry Nigerians’
*ADC Challenges Tinubu on Fuel Subsidy
By KEMI KASUMU
“Oga Bayo Onanuga, please enough with the midnight press releases. Atiku Abubakar has clearly given the APC family sleepless nights,” the group said.
The Youth Wing of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has fired back at the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, dismissing the government’s celebration of Moody’s positive outlook on Nigeria’s economy as disconnected from the daily struggles of ordinary Nigerians.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Friday, August 28, 2026, the ADC Youth Wing said international credit ratings could not substitute for affordable food, cheaper transportation, accessible housing, improved security or increased purchasing power.
The statement, signed by Comrade Chika Idoko, Special Adviser on Press and Media Relations to the ADC Youth Wing, was titled: “ADC Youth Wing to Bayo Onanuga: Moody’s May Be Positive, But Nigerians Are Not.”
The group accused Onanuga of relying too heavily on economic indicators while Nigerians were grappling with what it described as worsening economic hardship.
“Oga Bayo Onanuga, please enough with the midnight press releases. Atiku Abubakar has clearly given the APC family sleepless nights,” the group said.
It added that while the government was free to celebrate Moody’s assessment, the more important question was whether ordinary Nigerians were experiencing tangible improvements in their daily lives.
“You can celebrate Moody’s positive outlook as you want, but a credit rating is not food on the table, cheaper petrol, affordable rent, security, or money in the pockets of struggling Nigerians,” the statement declared.
The opposition group used the plight of low-income Nigerians to drive home its argument, saying economic ratings had little meaning to people struggling to afford basic necessities.
“Oga Bayo, tell an akara seller on the street about Moody’s rating and she will ask you one simple question: Will Moody’s pay my rent or reduce the price of food?” it asked.
The ADC Youth Wing further injected the 2027 election into its criticism, questioning whether international rating agencies would have any role in determining the choice Nigerians would make at the polls.
“Nigerians are asking another simple question: Does Moody’s have a PVC? Which polling unit will Moody’s vote at in 2027?” the statement said.
“If Moody’s wants Tinubu, let Moody vote for Tinubu. Nigerians will vote based on their lived reality.”
According to the group, Nigerians were more concerned about the rising prices of food and transportation, high rents, insecurity, unemployment and declining purchasing power than positive assessments from international financial institutions.
“The reality is glaring. Nigerians are battling rising food prices, transportation costs, rent, insecurity, unemployment and declining purchasing power,” it said.
“Seeing is believing, and Nigerians are seeing very little positive impact in their daily lives.”
The ADC Youth Wing warned that official explanations and economic terminology would not be enough to convince citizens who were struggling to survive.
“So Oga Bayo, no amount of sophisticated economic grammar can deceive a hungry population,” the group said.
It also cautioned the Tinubu administration against relying on fresh temporary relief measures introduced shortly before the 2027 elections, arguing that Nigerians had endured the consequences of government policies for years.
“And please, don’t suddenly ask Nigerians to trust another temporary relief introduced on the eve of an election. Nigerians have endured the consequences of these policies for years and have heard enough promises,” it said.
The opposition youth group also challenged President Tinubu to consider restoring the petrol subsidy if the administration was genuinely concerned about the economic hardship confronting Nigerians.
“If President Tinubu truly wants to save Nigerians from further hardship, he can stylishly restore the fuel subsidy and call it Petrol Reform, Nigerians will understand,” the group said.
The ADC Youth Wing then positioned former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its preferred alternative ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
“But make no mistake, Nigerians have made up their minds. The choice in 2027 is increasingly clear. Atiku Abubakar represents the credible alternative and the opportunity for Nigerians to breathe again,” it declared.
The group ended its statement with a direct political message to Onanuga and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC):
“Let Moody’s vote for Tinubu. Let Nigerians vote for His Excellency Atiku Abubakar.”
“Oga Bayo, take it to the bank. Tinubu is OTP — One Term President.”
The statement underscores the intensifying political battle ahead of the 2027 elections, with opposition parties increasingly seeking to make economic hardship and the cost of living central issues in their campaigns.
