The Presidency on Thursday replied former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his criticism of the borrowing pattern under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, insisting that taking loans is a normal practice among sovereign nations.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said this while reacting to Obi’s recent remarks questioning the Federal Government’s repeated resort to fresh borrowing.

Obi had expressed concern over the increasing loan requests by the Tinubu administration, warning that Nigeria’s rising debt profile could slow down economic growth and place more burden on future generations.

But responding to the criticism, Onanuga said Obi was turning the issue into unnecessary politics, stressing that borrowing by independent nations should not be seen as something unusual.

According to him, every sovereign nation borrows, adding that President Tinubu has made it clear that borrowing is not a problem when such funds are meant for projects that will improve the economy and national infrastructure.

He explained that the current administration’s loans are being used to finance critical infrastructure and not for recurrent spending or consumption.

Onanuga also maintained that the willingness of lenders to continue giving Nigeria loans shows that the country remains financially credible and capable of repayment.

He added that political leaders should learn to discuss national issues with facts and sound reasoning rather than emotional sentiments.

The presidential aide further advised Obi to rise above public emotional reactions and social media criticisms by addressing governance matters with more constructive arguments.