Afenifere in a statement on Friday said the Buhari's regime didn't make provisions for subsidies in the last budget which led to hasty removal of fuel subsidy by the incumbent president on inauguration.

The Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere has attributed the current economic woes of Nigeria to the bad economic policies as begun by the former President Muhammadu Buhari's administration.

Afenifere in a statement on Friday said the Buhari's regime didn't make provisions for subsidies in the last budget which led to hasty removal of fuel subsidy by the incumbent president on inauguration.

In the statement jointly signed by the publicity and organising secretaries, Jare Ajayi and Kole Omololu, respectively, Afenifere berated the last administration for creating economic holes for the present administration in the country,

The group, however, urged state governors who are receiving almost double allocations due to the removal of subsidies and readjustment of exchange rates should deliver and ensure security of their people, not pushing blame to the government at the centre.

The statement partly read: “Under Buhari’s watch, terrorists and banditry were operating effortlessly. Law and order broke down. Many innocent citizens, including the daughter of our leader, were killed or kidnapped.

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.”

The Yoruba group said a probe panel accused Godwin Emefiele and his team of printing N22.7 trillion through ways and means and that the federal government was borrowing to pay salaries and pensions during the years of the Buhari administration.

The group further claimed that under Buhari, some ministers had suggested the removal of subsidies, among other economic decisions, but did not agree until his last year in office to lay a booby trap for the incoming administration.

“It was, therefore, obvious that we were simply postponing the evil day. The CBN Governor denied leaks flying around that the books were being doctored. He reassured the federation that all was well.

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. This was obvious as there was no appropriation for subsidy from June 2023.

“He quickly followed up with the deregulation of the forex regime, which resulted in the free fall of the naira. A man who is not shy about making difficult decisions probably underestimated the capability and capacity of the beneficiaries of the old order to make things ungovernable for his administration.”

Afenifere suggested a vibrant Ministry of Information to regularly stay in touch with the people, to explain on the government plans and programmes to address the economic and security situations in the country.

They called for the realignment of the National Assembly budget and the launch of operations to go back to the people by the legislators, and each member must take palliatives back to the constituency.

”Governors receiving almost double allocations due to the removal of subsidies and readjustment of exchange rates should deliver to their people. The allocations of each state of the federation should be published monthly

Implementation of operation Grow What We Eat and Eat What We Grow policy. Make banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism capital offences punishable by death

Return to true and fiscal federalism with state police, for which we commend the President and Governors’ endorsement, and state ownership of mineral resources.

“This is not the time for some elder statesmen to make incendiary comments that can put our unity in jeopardy. Rather, it is a time to deepen peaceful coexistence to navigate through our current challenges.

Orchestrating anarchy will be resisted in our dear nation. We fought with our blood to achieve democracy. We will also vigorously defend it, as it is here to stay,” the group said.