A former Director of News at the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation, Smolette Adetoyese Shittu-Alamu, has strongly backed Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), over his recent remarks on the deteriorating quality of life in Nigeria, stating that the presidency’s rebuttal was “dismissive, unethical, and disconnected from the lived realities of Nigerians.”
Dr. Adesina, a globally renowned agricultural economist and former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development under President Goodluck Jonathan, recently sparked controversy when he suggested that Nigerians were better off at independence in 1960 than they are today. The AfDB president made the comments while comparing the state of the country in 1960 with what he observed on the streets 65 years later.
The comments drew a swift and sharp rebuke from Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, who accused Adesina of using unverifiable data and speaking like “a politician in the mould of Peter Obi.”
But in a strongly-worded reaction, Shittu-Alamu faulted the presidential response, describing Dr. Adesina as “eminently qualified” and more than capable of speaking with authority on the matter.
“Will an Agricultural Economist like the AfDB boss make an unverifiable statement?” he asked. “Should he not be one of the most informed when it comes to the socio-economic indices of African nations, including Nigeria?”
Shittu-Alamu further noted that Adesina’s background as the first Nigerian to earn a First Class degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ife (now OAU) in 1981, his award-winning PhD from Purdue University, and his years of impactful service at the Rockefeller Foundation and AGRA, place him far above political pettiness.
“He radically transformed Nigeria’s agriculture sector during his time as Minister by introducing the Electronic Wallet system that reached over 15 million farmers, eliminating four decades of fertilizer corruption,” he stated.
According to the veteran broadcaster, the presidency’s counterargument about GDP growth is misleading and does not reflect the everyday struggles of Nigerians.
“Yes, GDP may be 50 or even 100 times larger than in 1960, but what about access to healthcare, quality education, transportation, job opportunities, and security? Have these improved for the average Nigerian? The answer is a resounding no.”
He pointed to widespread insecurity, unemployment, overstretched public services, and decaying infrastructure as proof that the majority of Nigerians are worse off now than they were six decades ago.
“Our universities are congested, joblessness is rife, and many of our young people are forced to ‘japa’ in search of better lives abroad. In 1960, you could travel freely across the country. Today, nowhere is safe.”
Shittu-Alamu described Onanuga’s response as lacking ethical depth and advised presidential aides to adopt higher standards of truth and public accountability.
“Ethics should guide conduct in public office. Government spokespersons must strive to reflect the suffering of the people rather than paper over the cracks with defensive statements,” he said.
He concluded: “Dr. Adesina is right. The presidency is wrong. Let’s face the truth. Nigeria must begin to measure progress by how well its people live, not by numbers on a chart.”