The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has strongly condemned the recent attack by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu' spokesman, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, against the person of Dr. Adesina Akinwumi, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) on the latter's recent public comparison of Nigeria's poverty situation, the way it is now, and how it was in the 1960s.

In a terse press statement dated May 5, 2025 made available to News Express, the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) through its National Secretary, Comrade Gerald O. Katchy, Mr. Onanuga was told in very strong terms by Comrade Adeniran to among other things "stop bullying Dr. Adesina Akinwumi," because his (Akinwunmi's) criticisms reveal the truth about Nigeria's economy."

CDHR said: "The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, (CDHR) expresses her disappointment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Media aid Mr. Bayo Onanuga with his penchant in attacking messengers instead of their message... they should stop bulling."

Instead, the body called on President Tinubu to "focus on facts, not attacks," adding that "reports on poverty levels and GDP performances are grounded in verifiable data derived from credible institutions, both local like Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, Nairametrics and internationals like World Bank, IMF.

"Shooting the messenger does nothing to change the harsh realities facing millions of Nigerians who are struggling daily with rising prices, joblessness, and failing infrastructure," Comrade Katchy said.

It would be recalled that Dr. Akinwumi, the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), recently did a comparison of Nigerian's poverty situation as obtains now and how it was in the 1960s, which had shown very significantly that Nigeria's economy was not doing well as a nation.

Katchy advised: "rather than divert attention with personal attacks or political posturing, the government should urgently address the structural and policy failures responsible for the worsening economic indicators... Nigerians deserve solutions, not scapegoats that has become one too many.

"Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, (CDHR) expresses its disappointment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Media aid Mr. Bayo Onanuga with his penchant for attacking messengers instead of their message... they should stop bulling

"In the light of recent statements from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Media Aid Mr. Bayo Onanuga seeking to discredit voices drawing attention to Nigeria's deepening poverty and economic stagnation, we reaffirm that facts-not personalities-must remain the focus of national discourse.

"Dr. Adesina is very respected for his integrity, outstanding performance and unconditional love for our country. His clarion remarks are supposed to be a feedback mechanism to a responsible government, but unfortunately that is not the case here.

"Rather than face the facts presented by economy experts, PBAT allows his aids to politise everything. Government response is expected to come from fellow experts entrusted to manage our economy and not media aids."

Concluding, the CDHR scribe urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's government to demonstrate leadership by engaging with data constructively and prioritizing policies that deliver real economic relief. Accountability, transparency, and action, not defensiveness, are the hallmarks of good governance, Comrade Gerald O. Katchy emphasised.

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