Femi Adesina, former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has hailed Buhari as a “friend of the masses,” emphasizing that his policies and decisions were aimed at improving the lives of Nigerians. In a tribute marking Buhari’s 82nd birthday on Tuesday, Adesina highlighted one such policy — Buhari’s decision to retain fuel subsidies during his presidency. Referring to him as ‘Ore Mekunu,’ a Yoruba term for a friend of the poor, Adesina noted that even in retirement, Buhari continues to attract the admiration of the people. He further described his former boss as a leader who resisted taking actions that would have worsened the poverty of the masses, even when aware that some corrupt leaders were 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”.
Almost two years into retirement, Adesina said people still continue to mill around him because of his disposition to the poor.
