Femi Adesina, the former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari has explained why the former leader did not remove fuel subsidy while in office.
Describing Buhari as a
"friend of the masses," he emphasized that this quality informed many
of his policies and decisions while in office.
Adesina made the remarks in a
tribute celebrating Buhari’s 82nd birthday on Tuesday, December 17.
Reflecting on Buhari’s
leadership, Adesina attributed the former president’s decision to retain fuel
subsidies during his tenure to his concern for ordinary Nigerians. “The Big
Elephant in the room (was the) removal of fuel subsidy. Did you think the Government
didn’t know that the money-guzzling monster had to be slain? It knew. But who
ensured that subsidies remained as long as it did? Buhari. And why? The people,
the ordinary people. His argument was always simple,” Adesina wrote.
Adesina recalled Buhari’s
reasoning during government meetings, stating, “When oil sold for at least $100
per barrel in the international market, rising even to as high as $140 per
barrel, what did the ordinary people gain? Nothing! So why should they be the
ones to bear the brunt when oil prices fall?”
Adesina described Buhari as
"Ore Mekunu," a Yoruba phrase meaning "friend of the poor,"
and noted that this characteristic still draws people to him even in
retirement.
He added, “He didn’t want to do
something that would throw society into a tailspin for the sake of the ordinary
people,” even when Buhari’s position on subsidies aligned with other political
leaders toward the end of his administration.
Nearly two years after leaving
office, Adesina observed that Buhari’s disposition toward the masses continues
to resonate, as people still gather around him. “He still draws the people like
magnets even in retirement,” Adesina said, celebrating the enduring legacy of
the former president’s concern for the underprivileged.
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