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The Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, stated that those who opposed the removal of the fuel subsidy during former President Goodluck Jonathan's administration are now the individuals required to enforce it.
Sanusi shared this insight at the Oxford Global Think Tank Leadership Conference on Tuesday.
“We discuss these matters because they are significant; there is a certain poetic justice in the fact that those who spearheaded the Occupy Nigeria movement ultimately inherited the issue and are now tasked with addressing it,” he remarked.
In discussing the reasons behind the Jonathan administration's eventual compromise on the policy, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria indicated that security concerns, particularly during the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency, were influential in the decision.
“The sole reason the government compromised at that time, adjusting the subsidy by 50 percent to 100 percent, was due to Boko Haram,” he clarified.
“There were thousands of Nigerians protesting in Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, and other cities. There was a genuine fear that one day a suicide bomber could approach these crowds and detonate explosives, leading to 200 casualties; it would then transcend the issue of subsidy,” he added.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Emir of Kano say about the fuel subsidy removal?
The Emir stated that those who opposed the removal of the fuel subsidy during Goodluck Jonathan's presidency are now the ones required to implement it.
Why did the Jonathan administration compromise on the fuel subsidy policy?
The compromise was primarily driven by security concerns during the height of the Boko Haram insurgency.
What was the public reaction during the protests against the fuel subsidy?
There were massive protests across various cities in Nigeria, including Lagos, Kano, and Kaduna, as thousands of Nigerians took to the streets.
