Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau has challenged former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s assessment of Nigeria’s economic and democratic difficulties, arguing that government interventions are not being adequately explained to citizens. Both men spoke at a public lecture in Yola marking the birthday of Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri.
Osinbajo drew on Afrobarometer survey findings to warn that dissatisfaction with governance, unemployment, high living costs and limited opportunities for young people could weaken confidence in democracy. The figures cited in the address included a broad preference for democracy but much lower satisfaction with its performance.
Barau acknowledged the seriousness of public hardship while defending the Tinubu administration’s education and infrastructure programmes. He highlighted the Nigerian Education Loan Fund and major highway projects, arguing that investment in schools, roads and other public assets would support long-term growth. He also said conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East had contributed to global price pressures.
The exchange underscored a central question in Nigeria’s reform debate: whether better communication can rebuild confidence without faster improvements in household living standards. Barau urged political leaders to explain policies more effectively, while Osinbajo’s intervention focused on the consequences of unmet expectations for democratic legitimacy.
