Timi Frank to Tinubu: Quest for GWR recognition over economic reforms misplaced

Timi Frank, a former deputy spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says the quest by President Bola Tinubu to be recognised by the Guinness World Records (GWR) is misplaced.

Addressing groups of investors at the 10th German-Nigerian Business Forum on Tuesday, Tinubu said he deserves recognition for the economic reforms he introduced since assuming office on May 29.

“Nigeria voted for me for reforms and from day one of my inauguration, I started the reform,” Tinubu had said.

“To me, if you didn’t mention me in the Guinness Book of Records, I’d strive to find a way to insert myself because I did it without expectation.”

In a statement on Friday, Frank said the removal of subsidy on petrol and the state of the country’s currency should not count for reforms to be honoured by the GWR.

“You brandish your removal of fuel subsidy on Inauguration Day as evidence that you ‘hit the ground running’ but you have failed to realise that that singular action has heated up the average citizen with attendant pains, tears and sorrow,” he said.

“Your purported reforms have wrecked the nation’s currency with $1 now exchanging for over N1,000, up from N600 prior to your swearing-in as President.

“Yet you claimed to have broken a record capable of earning you a global recognition in the GWR.”

The former APC deputy spokesperson said the president’s foreign trips are yet to yield tangible results.

“He went to Saudi Arabia and India and upon return claimed he had convinced investors there to invest in Nigeria,” Frank added.

“But up till this moment no investor from Saudi or India has indicated interest to invest in Nigeria.”

Frank said investors are supposed to seek Nigeria, and not the other way around.