Femi Adesina, spokesperson to former President Muhammadu Buhari, said his principal did not remove the petrol subsidy because he cared about its implications on “ordinary” Nigerians.
In a tribute to commemorate Buhari’s 82nd birthday on Tuesday, Adesina said the decisions of the former president were based on his love for “poor and underprivileged” Nigerians.
Adesina mentioned that the Buhari-led administration was aware that the country was spending huge resources on the petrol subsidy.
The former presidential spokesperson described Buhari as “ore mekunu,” a Yoruba phrase that means friend of the poor.
Adesina recalled that during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, Buhari instructed Zainab Ahmed, the former Minister of Finance, to ensure the timely payment of workers’ salaries and pensions.
He added that Buhari understood the challenges workers faced during the pandemic and was determined to avoid the additional burden of unpaid salaries.
“The Big Elephant in the room. Removal of fuel subsidy. Did you think the Government didn’t know that the money guzzling monster had to be slain? It knew,” Adesina wrote.
“But who ensured that subsidies remained as long as they did? Buhari. And why? The people, the ordinary people. His argument was always simple:
“When oil sold for at least 100 dollars per barrel in the international market, rising even to as high as 140 dollars per barrel, what did the ordinary people gain? Nothing! So why should they be the ones to bear the brunt when oil prices fall?”
“By the time the administration ended, all, including the three main presidential candidates, were resolved that oil subsidies had to be removed.
“It was not unlikely that President Buhari shared the same conviction. But something that would throw society into a tailspin? He didn’t want to do it—for the sake of the ordinary people.
“Ordinary people gravitate towards Buhari, like bees to the honeycomb. That was why he always had a basket of millions of waiting votes, even before the first ballot was cast.
“He clobbered the ruling People’s Democratic Party in 2015, and won with even larger votes in 2019, despite all attempts to denigrate and demarket him. When you love the ordinary people, they love you in return, and stand with you through thick and thin.
“Now almost two years into retirement, get to Buhari’s house today. And you see the people milling around, just wanting to get a glimpse of the man.
“As he turns 82 on December 17, 2024, I salute the Ore Mekunu, a friend of the poor, who still draws the people like a magnet, even in retirement.”
