The Presidency has said that there was not a time when the current administration promised to make one Naira become equivalent to one dollar.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the claims suggesting that President Muhammadu Buhari made such a promise, are false.
“It does not exist, it is fake, it is false, it is apocryphal, it doesn’t exist” Mr. Adesina insisted while appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
Adesina said the minister of information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has debunked the claim severally and challenged anyone with clips and publications to make them available.
Speaking further about negative criticisms directed at the president and the administration, Mr. Adesina said Nigerians must stop dwelling solely on the negatives if the country is to forge ahead in the progressive path.
The president’s special media aide argued that there are silver linings in the sky. He, however, opined that it is typical of Nigeria that when the break in the clouds comes, no one talks about them.
Adesina’s comments come on the heels of some assertions made by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, following a recent report that tagged Nigeria as the nation with the highest unemployment rate in the world.
Atiku in a statement on Sunday said the present Nigerian government lacks the capacity to address issues facing the country.
The PDP presidential candidate in the last election called on stakeholders and elder statesmen to help in rescuing Nigeria which he noted is on the precipice.
In addressing Atiku and reacting to the dismissive report, Adesina maintained that all nations in the world experience negatives and if that becomes a focus then there will be many more to talk about.
He, however, declared that there are also many positives in Nigeria, adding that Nigerians must look out for the cheery reports and encourage themselves.
According to him, looking at the optimistic reports in Nigeria will not only help individuals but will also accelerate whatever the government is doing.
The spokesman urged critics to cut the Buhari-led administration some slacks and give Nigeria some credits. He noted that the nation is making progress, adding that though it may be slower than some may want it, but things are looking up.
