Bayo Onanuga, spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu, has lashed out at Peter Obi, former Anambra governor and Labour Party presidential candidate in 2023, and his supporters for not acknowledging the recent drop in inflation.

Mr Onanuga, in a post on social media on Wednesday, called Mr Obi out for not acknowledging the National Bureau of Statistics’ latest report showing that inflation dropped to 18.02 from 20.12 in September.

“Inflation recorded its most significant crash in September, falling from 20.12% to 18.02%,” Mr Onanuga said, citing the NBS report.

He added, “Peter Obi and his Obidient mob will never acknowledge this positive development in the economy. Never!”

Yunusa Tanko, who doubles as spokesperson for Mr Obi and coordinator of Obidient Movement, a pro-Obi support group, dismissed the latest inflation report by NBS as a manipulated, reduced figure.

“We can not be deceived by fictitious statistics,” Mr Tanko said. “From an hyper inflation to a remarkably manipulated reduced figure is what you want us to be jubilant about.”

“How much was a bag of rice before they took over and what is the price?, he asked.

Mr Onanuga’s statement comes against the backdrop of the reported drop in inflation, according to the NBS. Since the rebasing of the economy, inflation has been on a downward trend from 33 per cent to 18.02.