Ben
Former President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, addressed the petrol subsidy removal issue that he left for his successor, Bola Tinubu.
According to Buhari’s former spokesman, Garba Shehu, in a statement, the ex-president praised the steps taken by the new administration to implement the removal of the petrol subsidy and unify the Naira exchange rate. The statement was in response to critics questioning why Tinubu acted quickly to remove the subsidy while Buhari did not do so for years.
Shehu stated that if the Petroleum Industry Act, which included the petrol subsidy removal, had been implemented earlier, the ruling party and Tinubu would have lost the 2023 election. Shehu emphasized that although Buhari did not remove the petrol subsidy, he eliminated other subsidies that were burdening the federal budget, such as electricity, fertilizer, hajj/Christian pilgrim, diesel, aviation fuel, LPFO, kerosene, and cooking gas subsidies.
Shehu also explained that the decision to remove subsidies was not solely Buhari’s responsibility but required the involvement of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He acknowledged that the timing of the decisions by the Tinubu/Shettima administration to remove fuel subsidies and unify the currency was commendable and highlighted their successful management of the aftermath without causing any crisis. Shehu expressed hopes that the public would support the new leadership in implementing promised palliative efforts and urged labor unions and civil society to collaborate with them.
Shehu clarified that the Buhari administration had been considering removing subsidies since 2015 but delayed the decision because of high tensions in the country. He praised the wit and determination of the Tinubu government in tackling the issue. Shehu also acknowledged that the Buhari administration, being in its last days and seeking re-election, could not have fully implemented the decision as outlined in the Petroleum Industry Act.
Polls showed the party would have been voted out if such a decision had been made. With a new administration now in place, Shehu expressed confidence that they would lead the nation into a stable future after these significant economic decisions.
_
Source: Omanghana.com
