Barau Counters Osinbajo, Defends Tinubu’s Economic Reforms

Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, has faulted former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s assessment of Nigeria’s economy and democratic governance, arguing that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has taken steps to address the country’s longstanding challenges.

Barau acknowledged concerns raised by Osinbajo, particularly those drawn from Afrobarometer surveys on public perceptions of democracy and economic conditions across Africa.

However, he argued that inadequate communication between the government and the citizens had contributed to the negative perception of the administration’s performance.

The deputy Senate president spoke on Tuesday in Yola, Adamawa State, during a public lecture titled, “Democracy and Development: Rethinking the Leadership Question,” organised to mark the 59th birthday of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.

Osinbajo, who served as vice president under the late former President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2023, had expressed concern over declining public confidence in democratic governance across Africa despite nearly three decades of uninterrupted democratic rule in several countries.

Citing Afrobarometer survey, the highlighted widespread dissatisfaction with democratic institutions, economic hardship, declining confidence in government and diminishing youth participation in electoral politics.

He noted that although 64 per cent of Africans preferred democracy to other forms of government, only 38 per cent were satisfied with how democracy was working in their respective countries.

Osinbajo also cited findings indicating that 59 per cent of Africans considered their national economies to be in bad shape, while 51 per cent believed their economies had deteriorated.

He further highlighted the rising cost of living, unemployment, inadequate access to healthcare and declining voter turnout, warning that persistent economic hardship could undermine public confidence in democracy, particularly among young people.

Responding to the presentation, Barau described Osinbajo’s lecture as thought-provoking and intellectually stimulating but maintained that the challenges identified were being addressed by the Tinubu administration.

He also argued that the gap between government efforts and public perception could be partly attributed to inadequate communication.

“I know he is a very good orator, a good public speaker and an intellectual to the core,” Barau said, explaining that he had initially decided not to prepare a speech to avoid turning the birthday celebration into an occasion for speeches.

He, however, said Osinbajo’s presentation compelled him to make some observations.

“What I want to say is this: one important reason for the gloomy picture portrayed by the surveys, particularly those conducted by Afrobarometer, is what the professor talked about and specifically observed: the issue of communication between the leaders and the led.

“There is no proper communication,” he said.

Barau maintained that the federal and state governments were implementing measures to address the challenges identified by Osinbajo, particularly in education, infrastructure and economic development.

On education, the Deputy President of the Senate said the government was expanding access to learning opportunities to address the challenges posed by Nigeria’s growing population and large youth demographic.

He stressed that providing educational opportunities, particularly for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, remained critical to the country’s long-term development.

“Before now, it was very difficult for a child who did not have the means to go to school. Now, everyone, except a child who does not want to go to school, can go to school in Nigeria with the NELFUND introduced by this administration,” he said.

Barau’s remarks highlighted the role of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) in the administration’s efforts to widen access to tertiary education.

The senator also emphasised the importance of infrastructure development in driving economic growth, improving living standards and stimulating commercial activities.

He cited ongoing road projects across the country, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Badagry-Sokoto Highway, alongside projects in the North-East and North-West, as evidence of efforts to address Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit.

“When we talk about economic prosperity, you cannot achieve it without a certain level of infrastructure, including road networks, water supply and other essential infrastructure.

“This is what is happening currently in this country under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. Roads are being constructed everywhere to propel the process of bringing economic prosperity. That is being done.

“It is a long journey, but it is being done. Yet, there is no proper communication,” he said.

Barau called for sustained engagement between the government and the public to ensure Nigerians were adequately informed about government policies, ongoing projects and interventions.

Addressing Nigeria’s economic challenges, Barau argued that the rising cost of living should also be considered within the context of global economic pressures.

He attributed increases in energy prices and the cost of goods and services partly to international conflicts and disruptions to global supply chains, particularly those affecting food-producing regions and energy markets.

According to him, the Russia-Ukraine war and tensions in the Middle East have contributed to rising energy prices and increased global production costs.

He also cited disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, a major international oil transit route, as one of the factors contributing to volatility in global energy markets.

“The fact is that these challenges are not peculiar to Nigeria; they have an international dimension. The rising cost of living is partly attributable to conflicts in different parts of the world, including the Middle East, as well as the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. These conflicts have disrupted global supply chains, driven up energy prices and increased the cost of goods and services worldwide,” he said.

Barau, who is also the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, said the resulting economic turbulence had affected countries across the world, adding that Nigeria could not remain insulated from global developments.

“Nigeria is not an island,” he said.

The Deputy President of the Senate urged political leaders, public officials and other stakeholders to take greater responsibility for communicating government policies and interventions effectively.

He maintained that improved communication was essential to bridging the gap between citizens’ expectations and their understanding of government performance.

According to him, Nigerians need to be adequately informed about the challenges confronting the country, the measures being implemented to address them and the progress being made towards economic recovery and national development.