Deputy Senate President, faults Osinbajo's gloomy assessment of Nigeria's economy

Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, has faulted former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo over his gloomy assessment of Nigeria's economy and democracy.

Barau said the Tinubu administration is addressing longstanding challenges, but government must improve communication of its efforts.

He spoke in Yola at a lecture titled "Democracy and Development: Rethinking the Leadership Question" to mark Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri's 59th birthday.

Osinbajo, citing Afrobarometer surveys, had lamented that while 64% of Africans prefer democracy, only 38% are satisfied with how it works, with 59% rating economies as bad and 51% saying they worsened.

He warned of hardship, unemployment, poor healthcare and low youth voter turnout weakening faith in democracy.

Barau described the lecture as thought-provoking but said the gloomy picture was partly due to poor communication between leaders and citizens.

"There is no proper communication," Barau said, praising Osinbajo as a good orator and intellectual.

He said both federal and state governments are acting, citing education through NELFUND which now allows indigent students to access schooling.

On infrastructure, he listed Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Badagry-Sokoto Highway and projects in North-East and North-West as proof of efforts to drive prosperity.

He argued cost-of-living pressures have global roots, including Russia-Ukraine war and Middle East tensions disrupting supply chains and energy prices through routes like Strait of Hormuz.

"Nigeria is not an island," Barau said, urging leaders to better communicate policies so citizens understand challenges and progress being made.