By Chimaobi Nwaiwu
NNEWI — The National Coordinator of the Human Rights Justice Advocates (HRJA), Dr. Basil Ogomegbulam, has faulted remarks attributed to the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, over the state of hunger and economic hardship in the country.
Ogomegbulam said Onanuga was not in a position to accurately assess the level of suffering being experienced by ordinary Nigerians, arguing that his role within the current administration makes him incapable of offering an objective evaluation of the situation.
The rights advocate also criticized the presidential aide for reportedly linking the government’s performance to infrastructure projects, policy initiatives, student loan schemes and credit facilities, insisting that such achievements do not negate the economic challenges confronting many citizens.
According to him, it was disappointing that individuals who once held governments accountable had become defenders of policies that many Nigerians believe have worsened their living conditions.
“How times fly and how people change because of a change in status and proximity to power,” Ogomegbulam said.
He maintained that people serving in government positions should not be the ones determining whether citizens are suffering, stressing that those directly affected by rising costs of living are better placed to assess the reality on the ground.
Also reacting, former President of the Osakwe Industrial Cluster, Awada, near Onitsha in Anambra State, Chief Johnson Okolo, described Onanuga’s position as an attempt to defend the administration he serves.
Okolo argued that the true measure of economic wellbeing should be based on the purchasing power of workers and the prevailing market realities rather than infrastructure projects.
He challenged the presidential spokesman to assess whether the salaries of civil servants could adequately sustain their families in the face of rising prices of food, cooking gas and other essential commodities.
According to him, many Nigerians believe that a privileged class benefits from government patronage and therefore may not fully appreciate the extent of hardship facing the wider population.
“Any reasonable Nigerian should know that when you compare workers’ earnings with current market prices, it is obvious that many citizens are struggling,” he said.
Okolo further maintained that civil servants and other low-income earners should be consulted when evaluating the economic situation in the country, rather than government officials who enjoy privileges attached to public office.
Similarly, legal practitioner and community leader from Amuro Okigwe in Imo State, Chris Muo, said Onanuga’s comments reflected his responsibility as a government spokesman.
Muo, however, insisted that Nigerians were experiencing severe economic difficulties, which he said had deepened under the current administration.
He added that while many citizens were reluctant to openly express their frustrations, the prevailing economic realities remained evident across the country.
The comments come amid continuing public debate over the impact of government policies on the cost of living and the welfare of Nigerians.
