Kenneth Okonkwo Slams Tinubu’s New Year Address as ‘Fraudulent’

The political atmosphere in Nigeria grew even more charged this Friday as Kenneth Okonkwo, a vocal chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and veteran actor, unleashed a scathing critique of President Bola Tinubu’s New Year broadcast. Featuring on Channels Television’s “Sunrise Daily,” Okonkwo accused the President of building his 2026 agenda on a foundation of “white lies” and “rebased fraudulent figures.” The legal practitioner and politician expressed profound disappointment, suggesting that the administration’s pattern of deception on the very first day of the year serves as an ominous harbinger for the remaining twelve months.

Okonkwo’s primary grievance centered on the President’s claim that 2026 would mark “the beginning” of a robust economic phase for the nation. To the ADC chieftain, this phrasing was not an inspiration but an admission of a wasted tenure. He argued that after nearly three years in power, a government should be showcasing the fruits of its labor rather than claiming to be at a “beginning.” He described this rhetoric as a clear sign of failure, asserting that an administration that has not “begun” anything tangible in three years is effectively admitting to incompetence and the stagnation of the Nigerian state.

The most contentious point of the interview arose when Okonkwo addressed the President’s assertion that inflation has eased significantly to 15%. Okonkwo labeled this figure an “embarrassment to the world,” citing the lived experience of Nigerians as the true barometer of economic health. To illustrate his point, he shared a personal anecdote regarding the skyrocketing cost of domestic travel. He recalled a time before the current administration when a flight from Abuja to Enugu cost approximately N57,000. Recently, however, he paid a staggering N250,000 for the same route—a hike of nearly 500% that he believes completely contradicts the government’s official inflation narrative.

According to the politician, sitting down in a nationwide New Year message to reel off “rebased fraudulent figures” is both annoying and insulting to a populace struggling with the daily reality of a weakened currency and rising costs. He challenged the integrity of the data provided by the administration, suggesting that the gap between the President’s “white lies” and the market reality has become an unbridgeable chasm. For Okonkwo, the “15% inflation” target mentioned by the President is a statistical fabrication that fails to account for the actual price of food, fuel, and essential services on the streets.

Okonkwo also touched on a cultural sentiment, noting that in traditional Nigerian upbringing, children are taught never to tell a lie on New Year’s Day, as it sets the tone for the rest of the year. By starting 2026 with what he perceives as a series of falsehoods, he predicted that the Tinubu-led government is poised to “lie throughout the year.” He lamented that the government continues to “blow the limit” of his expectations regarding incompetence, moving from one “nonsensical” claim to another without addressing the fundamental suffering of the masses.

The ADC chieftain’s comments come at a time when the Nigerian opposition is increasingly coalescing to challenge the ruling party ahead of 2027. His appearance on national television reflects a broader strategy by the ADC and other coalition partners to keep the administration under intense scrutiny. By focusing on the “flight ticket” metric, Okonkwo aimed to simplify the complex economic debate, making it relatable to Nigerians who have seen their purchasing power evaporate despite the government’s optimistic quarterly reports.

Throughout the interview, Okonkwo remained relentless in his characterization of the current leadership as one that prefers propaganda over performance. He urged Nigerians to interrogate the “fraudulent inflation figures” and look beyond the scripted assurances of the presidency. His critique suggests that the opposition will not allow the administration to set a narrative of “economic recovery” without a fierce contest over the actual figures and the reality in Nigerian households.

As the political year of 2026 kicks off, Okonkwo has set a defiant tone. His message to the presidency was clear: the public is no longer blinded by sophisticated economic rebasing or optimistic themes of “shared prosperity.” Instead, he insists that they are watching their wallets and their dinner tables, and unless the “white lies” are replaced by genuine economic relief, the administration will face a deepening crisis of legitimacy.