Group Accuses Opposition of Using ‘Scandal Politics’ Against Tinubu
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Group Accuses Opposition of Using ‘Scandal Politics’ Against Tinubu
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Tinubu Media Support Group, TMSG, has accused opposition politicians of embarking on what it described as “scandal-fishing” in a bid to discredit President Bola Tinubu’s administration ahead of the 2027 general election.
The group alleged that opposition figures had resorted to misrepresenting facts and amplifying unverified claims after realising that defeating Tinubu at the polls would be difficult.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa, and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, the TMSG urged Nigerians to be wary of what it described as politically motivated narratives targeted at the Federal Government.
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The group cited recent comments on the International Monetary Fund’s observations regarding the 2026 budget as an example of what it called attempts to mislead the public.
According to the statement, the IMF had pointed to an alleged discrepancy of N8.83tn, representing about two per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, which it said was executed outside the formal budget process, while acknowledging ongoing government efforts to revise relevant laws to accommodate such expenditures.
The group, however, noted that the Federal Government, through the Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, had clarified that the expenditure comprised statutory transfers, intervention funds and other public spending backed by existing laws and approvals.
It explained that statutory allocations to agencies established by law, cost of revenue collection, administrative costs retained by revenue-generating agencies and special intervention funds were longstanding components of Nigeria’s public finance structure.
The TMSG further stated that part of the expenditure also covered capital projects approved in separate budgets for some agencies and the Federal Capital Territory by the National Assembly.
The group criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for commenting on the issue, saying his experience in government should have afforded him a better understanding of the country’s budgeting framework.
It also faulted the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, accusing him of misunderstanding governance processes at the federal level.
The group also dismissed the recent allegation by the African Democratic Congress that President Tinubu’s policies had pushed 17 million Nigerians into acute hunger.
According to the TMSG, the opposition misrepresented a report by the United Nations World Food Programme, which indicated that more than 17 million people in nine conflict-affected northern states were experiencing acute food insecurity.
It argued that the humanitarian crisis was largely linked to insecurity in the affected areas and not solely the result of the Federal Government’s economic policies.
The group maintained that the Tinubu administration was implementing both military and non-military measures to address insecurity and improve conditions in affected communities.
It accused opposition politicians of exploiting humanitarian concerns for political gain, insisting that such claims were intended to undermine the administration ahead of the 2027 elections.
