Nigeria, Aug. 3 -- The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu over its defence of ongoing economic reforms, saying government rhetoric cannot erase the economic hardship Nigerians face.

In a statement issued on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku accused the Federal Government of relying on statistics to paint a misleading picture of the economy while Nigerians continue to struggle with inflation, unemployment, rising debt and worsening living conditions.

The former vice president was reacting to comments by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, who def...