Femi Adesina, the former spokesperson for ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has revealed that Buhari refrained from removing the petrol subsidy during his tenure to shield ordinary Nigerians from potential hardship.
In a tribute marking Buhari’s 82nd birthday on December 17, 2024, Adesina described the former president as a leader deeply committed to the welfare of the poor, earning him the nickname “Ore Mekunu”—a Yoruba term meaning “friend of the poor.”
Subsidy: A Burden and a Shield
Adesina acknowledged that Buhari’s administration was well aware of the massive financial drain caused by the petrol subsidy but chose to maintain it for the benefit of the masses.
“Did you think the government didn’t know the subsidy was a money-guzzling monster that had to be slain? It did. But who ensured that subsidies remained as long as they did? Buhari. And why? For the people, the ordinary people,” Adesina wrote.
Buhari often questioned why ordinary citizens should bear the burden of fluctuating oil prices, particularly when they did not benefit during times of high crude oil prices, such as when oil reached $140 per barrel.
COVID-19 and Financial Relief
Adesina also highlighted Buhari’s efforts during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, noting that the former president instructed then-Finance Minister Zainab Ahmed to ensure the prompt payment of workers’ salaries and pensions to ease the financial strain on citizens during the lockdown.
Consensus on Subsidy Removal
By the end of Buhari’s administration in 2023, all three major presidential candidates, including his eventual successor, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had agreed on the necessity of ending the petrol subsidy.
While Buhari may have shared this view, Adesina said the former president deliberately avoided removing the subsidy to prevent social upheaval. “Buhari left it to his successor, who declared its removal during his inauguration on May 29, 2023,” Adesina noted.
Buhari’s Legacy
Adesina attributed Buhari’s enduring popularity to his alignment with the interests of ordinary Nigerians. “Ordinary people gravitate toward Buhari like bees to honeycomb. That’s why he always commanded millions of votes, even before the first ballot was cast,” he wrote.
Buhari’s appeal, according to Adesina, was instrumental in defeating the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015 and securing re-election in 2019. Even in retirement, Buhari’s home remains a destination for those seeking to see the “friend of the poor.”
Reflecting on the Subsidy’s End
While Buhari’s administration had announced in August 2022 that subsidy payments would cease by June 2023, it was Tinubu who implemented the policy immediately upon assuming office. The removal led to a sharp increase in petrol prices, subsequently driving up the cost of living for Nigerians.
As Buhari celebrates his 82nd birthday, Adesina concluded his tribute with praise for the former president’s enduring connection with the people, calling him a “magnet for ordinary Nigerians” and a true “Ore Mekunu.”
