Former Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, has debunked allegations that Buhari intentionally removed fuel subsidy at the end of his administration to create public backlash for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking to reporters in Abuja on Tuesday, July 1, Shehu described the claims as false and misleading, asserting that there was no plan to undermine the incoming administration.
“Subsidy removal was not planned to undermine the President Tinubu-led government,” Shehu said. “Both President Buhari and the incoming President, Bola Tinubu, were members of the APC. So we couldn’t have planned to sabotage our own government.”
Shehu also emphasized that Buhari’s actions were based on principle and integrity. “President Buhari was above corruption. He came to government with integrity and left with his integrity intact. He did his best. He did well for the country and history will be kind to him. President Buhari wasn’t a showman. He wanted his works to impact on Nigerians.”
The remarks come in response to public speculation that Buhari’s delayed subsidy removal in the final national budget of his tenure was intended to pass the burden onto Tinubu’s administration. Following Tinubu’s May 2023 inauguration and immediate announcement that “fuel subsidy is gone,” Nigeria witnessed a spike in fuel prices, food costs, and transportation fares.
Shehu’s clarification seeks to reaffirm Buhari’s commitment to national interest and dispel rumors of intra-party sabotage.