By Adamu Yusuf
A former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential aspirant, Dr. Gbenga Hashim, has criticized Nigeria’s fiscal and monetary management under the All Progressives Congress (APC) saying the policies of the past decade have failed to match the country’s population growth and development needs.
Dr. Hashim made the remarks during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where discussions focused on the future of Nigeria’s economy and the role of young people in the global economic space.
He expressed concern over what he described as a sharp decline in the nation’s economic performance, noting that Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has significantly regressed over the years.
According to him, GDP stood at about $267 billion during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and rose to over $574 billion under President Goodluck Jonathan, but has now fallen to around $230 billion.
“This is a shocking regression for a nation with massive human and natural resources,” Hashim said.
The PDP aspirant also raised alarm over the continued devaluation of the naira, arguing that the current exchange rate does not reflect Nigeria’s economic fundamentals.
He said the situation has worsened the cost of living and undermined investor confidence in the economy.
Dr. Hashim further dismissed the Action Democratic Congress (ADC) as a credible political alternative, alleging that many of its prominent members are linked to Nigeria’s current economic and security challenges.
He claimed that, aside from Peter Obi and possibly Atiku Abubakar, several figures within the ADC were closely associated with policies that contributed to the present crisis.
He challenged members of the current administration’s economic management team, including the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Minister of Finance, to publicly defend their records in a live debate.
According to him, Nigerians deserve clear and transparent explanations on issues such as GDP contraction, currency instability, inflation, and the government’s overall economic strategy.
“It is an open challenge. Let their best hands—the CBN governor and the finance minister—come out for a live public debate on the economy with me,” he added.
