On Monday, former Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari explained why he abandoned Bola Tinubu to eliminate gasoline subsidy: the All Progressives Party (APC) and Tinubu would have lost the 2015 general election.
Garba Shehu, Buhari’s former adviser, claimed the ex-president applauded the new administration’s efforts to remove fuel subsidy and unify the Naira currency rate.
Shehu made a comment in response to critics who asked why Tinubu removed the fuel subsidy in weeks while Buhari took years.
He said surveys showed that the governing party would have lost the 2023 election if the Petroleum Industry Act, which removed fuel subsidies, was enacted before then.
Shehu stated, “Why did it take the new Tinubu/Shettima presidency weeks to eliminate the fuel subsidy while Buhari didn’t do it for years fails to ask the proper question.
Massive electricity subsidies. Fertilizer subsidy scam. Hajj/Christian Pilgrim subsidy. Remember them?
Diesel subsidy. Aviation fuel subsidy. LPFO. Kerosene. We grounded cooking gas and other subsidy measures. Remember them?
“For those with short memories, many of those subsidies were all in place when President Buhari was elected to office in 2015: all those in place were gone by May 2023, including the annual fertilizer subsidy that weighed 60-100 billion Naira (that’s trillion Naira in about 10 years – yes you read that right) heavy on the federal budget each year.
“No, Buhari didn’t abolish the fuel subsidy, but in crucially essential stages, he removed every other budget-busting, outrageous, economic-growth-crushing subsidy along the road.
“I have refrained from responding to these recurrent inquiries on the elimination in Nigeria of subsidies on Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, and that originating from the two rates of the Naira in the Central Bank and the parallel market: Why did Buhari ‘fail’ to accomplish this?
“First of all, instead of the former President addressing this question, the Party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, is best qualified to comment and failing to do this, we are compelled to state what would follow here.
“Secondly, with a Tinubu/Shettima presidency, there is a ‘New Sheriff in Town’.
“We don’t want to detract from their difficult work and the nation’s. We won’t steal their shine, either.
“The Tinubu/Shettima government did well timing the gasoline subsidy removal with currency unification. Most critically, they have avoided crises following choices.
To this end, our desire and prayers are that fellow countrymen will continue to support the new administration in these highly noble actions and, in particular, for the Labour leadership and civil society to engage with them to ensure the palliative measures as promised are effective.
The President should not make the choice to reduce subsidies.
“That’s why it’s necessary to remind ourselves – and all those who have conveniently forgotten – that the Buhari government has been on this track since 2015.
“Removing Naira and PMS subsidies was paused. Example: Petroleum Industry Act. Important decisions were postponed.
No reasonable leader would have fueled national tensions.
The Tinubu government’s wit and guts are needed to do this, according to many, including security officials.
We must be politically honest. The APC needed to win an election in Buhari’s last days. It was true for any political party seeking reelection with a new leader.
Poll after poll revealed that the party would have been kicked out of power if the new Petroleum Industry Act was implemented.
After the election, a skilled leader like ours is best positioned to go ahead. With these big economic and financial choices, we have no doubt that the new government will lead the country and its citizens to stability.
“Sometimes you have to lose to win.”
