The Yoruba socio-political group – Afenifere – has blamed former President Muhammadu Buhari and the sacked Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, for the economic hardship Nigerians are currently experiencing.
Afenifere said the bad economic policies of Buhari’s administration drove Nigeria into its current hardship.
The organisation made the remark through a statement on Friday by its Publicity and secretaries, Jare Ajayi and Kole Omololu.
Afenifere lamented that Buhari’s administration failed to make provisions for subsidies 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 past administration.
Afenifere said during Buhari’s government, some ministers had suggested the removal of subsidies, but he refused.
The statement read: “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.
“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 declaring the subsidy regime over. That was obvious because there was no appropriation for subsidy from June 2023,” it added.