Sunday Dare, Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication to President Bola Tinubu, has taken a swipe at former Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye, dubbing him Nigeria’s “Chief Political Entertainer.”
Dare criticized Melaye for prioritizing spectacle over substance during his appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time, where the ex-senator accused the Tinubu administration of recklessness and suggested the government might soon borrow from fintech firms like Opay and Moniepoint.
On X, Dare posted under the heading: “Dino Melaye’s Debt Drama: Noise, Not Knowledge,” urging Melaye to familiarize himself with basic economics. He argued that Melaye’s remarks were more entertainment than enlightenment.
Dare emphasized that borrowing is a legitimate tool for financing growth and reforms. He added:
“In his latest television appearance, he cast himself as Nigeria’s chief political entertainer, tossing around cheap jabs about ‘borrowing from OPay and Moniepoint.’
“But here are the facts: Nigeria’s total public debt stood at ₦149.39 trillion as of March 31, 2025, according to the Debt Management Office. The rise from last year is not due to reckless borrowing, but largely the arithmetic of naira depreciation.
“When the currency adjusts, the naira value of existing external debt rises—regardless of new loans.
“Nigeria’s debt-to-GDP ratio remains a moderate 40–45%, well below South Africa’s 70% or Ghana’s 90% plus. The real challenge is revenue mobilization, not runaway borrowing.
“Encouragingly, revenues are improving, strengthening our capacity to meet obligations. Borrowing is a legitimate tool for financing growth and reforms. What matters is sustainability, not soundbites. Unfortunately, Dino prefers theatrics to truth.”
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