- Abbas retracted claim that Nigeria’s debt hit 52% of GDP,
- ADC calls it political cowardice and lack of backbone,
- Group says Nigeria deserves honest leadership,
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has come hard on House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas for backing down on his earlier warning about Nigeria’s debt crisis.
Eko Hot Blog had earlier reported the Speaker’s sudden reversal after he initially claimed that Nigeria’s debt-to-GDP ratio had crossed 52%, breaching the legal limit.
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The platform described the backpedal as disappointing, saying it reflected the kind of political pressure that often kills honest dialogue in Nigeria’s governance.
The ADC, in a statement issued by its spokesperson, accused Abbas of lacking courage and called his retraction a “political retreat” that failed the Nigerian people. According to the party, leaders should not speak the truth only to withdraw it when challenged.
“This kind of reversal shows weakness in leadership. What Nigerians need right now is honesty, not political games,” the statement read.
The party stressed that Nigeria’s debt situation is alarming, and hiding the facts or sugarcoating the figures will not help solve the problem. Instead, they said the Speaker’s initial comment could have sparked much-needed national attention if only he had stood by it.
The ADC also noted that the rising debt, coupled with a struggling economy, should be reason enough for the National Assembly to hold urgent and transparent discussions on Nigeria’s financial future. They warned that continued silence or mixed messaging from top officials could damage public trust even further.
Earlier in the year, the ADC had raised concerns over Nigeria’s increasing loans, warning that the country was approaching a debt trap that could see the total figure climb past ₦200 trillion if unchecked.
For them, Speaker Abbas’s U-turn was not just a mistake, but a missed chance to lead boldly in a time of economic uncertainty.
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