APC founder says Nigerians now focused on 'stomach infrastructure' not Muslim-Muslim ticket
APC founding member Osita Okechukwu says Nigerians have stopped debating President Tinubu's Muslim-Muslim ticket and are now focused on 'stomach infrastructure'—the rising cost of living and economic hardship. Speaking on Trust TV's Sunday Politics programme on July 13, 2026, he argued Tinubu's policies over three years show no religious bias, citing an IMF warning that rising food prices could worsen poverty despite macroeconomic stability.
This matters because it reveals a shift in national concerns from identity politics to immediate survival needs as inflation bites. Okechukwu urged Tinubu to delegate more economic and national security responsibilities to VP Kashim Shettima, suggesting the VP could address specific economic challenges highlighted in the IMF report.
The thing is, with essential goods prices squeezing households nationwide, many Nigerians are prioritizing daily survival over political controversies. Whether Shettima gets expanded economic duties remains to be seen, but the public's focus has clearly shifted to bread-and-butter issues.
With Nigerians feeling the pinch in their pockets and stomachs, should economic management be elevated as a national priority over other debates, and what specific steps would actually ease the cost-of-living burden you're facing?