Kenneth Okonkwo Accuses Bola Tinubu of Voodoo Economics

Kenneth Okonkwo, a chieftain and spokesperson for the African Democratic Congress, accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of practicing "voodoo economics" and using dubious statistics to mask widespread poverty in Nigeria. Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics on August 23, 2026, Okonkwo argued that official reports of declining inflation contradict the actual rising costs of food and transportation.

Okonkwo criticized the administration's removal of fuel subsidies as "ill-conceived" and "ill-advised." While he noted that subsidies should not exist because oil is a domestic product, he asserted that the timing of the removal was unsustainable given that over 35 million Nigerians struggle with hunger.

He further highlighted the inadequacy of the N70,000 minimum wage, noting that it cannot cover basic needs when filling a 100-litre fuel tank costs N130,000. Okonkwo concluded that growth on paper does not constitute progress while citizens face increasing hunger and induced poverty.