{
  "id": 15009739,
  "title": "33 governors can’t be wrong backing Tinubu, says Onanuga",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/33-governors-cant-be-wrong-backing-tinubu-says-onanuga",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-16T18:08:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/33-governors-cant-be-wrong-backing-tinubu-says-onanuga/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, has come to the defense of the President's economic record, asserting that 33 state governors cannot be mistaken in backing his administration. Onanuga highlighted falling food prices, increased foreign reserves, improved access to foreign exchange, and growing foreign investment as proof of progress made under Tinubu's leadership, which began in May 2023. In response to Arise Television's clip featuring Obafemi George, a member of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council's Media and Strategic Communications Committee, Onanuga criticized television anchors for questioning the country's economic improvement, accusing them of promoting the opposition's narrative that little or no progress had occurred since Tinubu became President. Onanuga challenged them to revisit market prices to verify his claims. He cited the significant drop in the cost of staple food, such as rice, which had fallen from N120,000 to below N50,000 in his hometown as evidence of improvement, and pointed to Nigeria's soaring foreign reserves and the ability of Nigerians to use naira-denominated bank cards abroad. Additionally, he emphasized that investors were returning to Nigeria not just as portfolio investors, but as foreign direct investors, bringing capital and creating jobs. Onanuga insisted that the backing of 33 governors for President Tinubu demonstrated confidence in his leadership and economic direction, calling on critics to set partisan biases aside and acknowledge the administration's accomplishments.",
  "summary": "President Tinubu’s aide, Bayo Onanuga, says the support of 33 governors for the president shows confidence in his economic policies and direction. Read More: https://punchng.com/33-governors-cant-be-wrong-backing-tinubu-says-onanuga/",
  "key_points": [
    "33 state governors support President Tinubu's administration",
    "Tinubu's leadership noted for falling food prices and increased foreign reserves",
    "Critics accused of promoting opposition narrative, urged to verify economic claims"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "33 governors can’t be wrong backing Tinubu, says Onanuga",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/33-governors-cant-be-wrong-backing-tinubu-says-onanuga-15011305",
        "published": "2026-10-16T18:16:54.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}