Femi Adesina, the former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has shared the reasons behind his principal’s decision not to remove the fuel subsidy during his tenure.
In a tribute celebrating Buhari’s 82nd birthday on Tuesday, Adesina described the former president as a “friend of the masses” whose policies were always aimed at improving the lives of Nigerians.
He highlighted that Buhari’s decision to maintain the fuel subsidy was rooted in his concern for the welfare of ordinary Nigerians, particularly in light of the economic challenges they faced.
Adesina emphasized that the former president’s leadership choices were carefully made to balance economic realities with the need to protect the well-being of the people.
He described him as ‘Ore Mekunu’, a Yoruba phrase for a friend of the poor, adding that he ‘still draws the people like magnets even in retirement’.
Adesina described his boss as a President who refused to take decisions that would further impoverish the masses even when aware that some corrupt leaders are benefiting.
“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.
“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 stated.
The former presidential aide said even though Buhari may share the conviction to remove subsidies at the end of his administration like the presidential candidate then, “he didn’t want to do something that would throw society into a tailspin for the sake of the ordinary people”.
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