The Presidency on Sunday said history would be kinder to President Muhammadu Buhari than his critics were “prepared to be”.
A presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, in a statement, said certain tough decisions like the removal of subsidies on petroleum products, power, fertilizer among others had to be taken to put back the country on the path of sustainable development.
Shehu said with the support of ordinary Nigerians, Buhari had shown “a rare determination to carry out the bold initiatives” “driven by nothing other than the greatest good for the greatest number of people.”
He said Buhari was pushing development goals not politics in these challenging times, stressing that “history will judge him in favourable terms rather than his critics in the new media and the opposition.”
Shehu, who said the most important certificate in governance was acceptance by the people in any democracy, said Buhari needed the support and understanding of all citizens-inclusive of the opposition parties, the labour movement and civil society groups in carrying out the reforms.
He said Buhari’s administration “has worked hard to meet many expectations, but still, there are certain tough decisions which had to be taken to put back the country on the path of sustainable development.
“To stop the mismanagement of taxpayer money, eliminate corruption associated with subsidies on petroleum products, power, fertilizer among others, the administration took the decision to implement long-delayed reforms, withdraw and allow the market to determine their prices.
“Subsidy removal in these sectors had long been foreseen by successive administrations as game changers in search of solutions to move forward with the nation’s development. These are reforms that are necessary and overdue.”
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