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By Emmanuel Adeleke
The Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has blamed former President Muhammadu Buhari and ex-Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, for the present economic hardship being faced by Nigerians.
A statement jointly signed by Afenifere’s Publicity and Organising Secretaries, Comrade Jare Ajayi and Abagun Kole Omololu, said the immediate past administration failed to make provisions for subsidy in the last budget, leading to President Bola Tinubu hastily removing the subsidy on fuel.
Afenifere also accused Buhari of turning away from kidnapping, banditry and terrorism during his administration.
The group recalled how a probe panel accused the former CBN Governor of printing N22.7 trillion through ways and means, while the federal government was borrowing to pay salaries and pensions during the last administration.
Afenifere said during Buhari’s government, some ministers had suggested the removal of subsidy, but he refused.
“Under Buhari’s watch, terrorists and banditry were operating effortlessly. Law and order broke down. Many innocent citizens including the daughter of our leader were killed and or kidnapped.
“President Buhari could not rein in his critical officials like the then Governor of CBN, Mr Godwin Emefiele, who was printing money rather than facing the reality of taking the difficult decisions, which were postponed till the evil day.
“The CBN Governor denied leaks flying around that the books were being doctored. He reassured the federation that all was well. He even wanted to contest the presidential election! There were no penalties for his infractions by President Buhari. These inactions and false lives continued till May 29, 2023, when the new helmsman, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, was sworn in as president.
“President Tinubu wasted no time amending his inauguration address and declared the subsidy administration over. This was obvious as there was no appropriation for subsidy from June 2023. He quickly followed up with the deregulation of the forex regime, which resulted in the free fall of the Naira.
“A man who is not shy about making difficult decisions, he probably underestimated the capability and capacity of the beneficiaries of the old order to make things ungovernable for his administration.
“Those sleeping and snoring during the eight years of Buhari suddenly woke up. They forgot that these remedial actions should have been taken many years back. The major sins of PBAT reside in his daring to contest and win the presidential election and make these decisions, which will hurt in the short term but bring us back to reality in the long run,” the statement added.