Garba Shehu, the former spokesman for President Muhammadu Buhari, has reaffirmed that his principal played a crucial role in stabilizing Nigeria’s economy during his tenure. Shehu’s statement comes in response to allegations that Buhari’s administration exacerbated Nigeria’s problems, contributing to the current challenges in the country.
During an interview with BBC Hausa Service, Shehu emphasized that no previous government had faced economic challenges on the scale that Buhari’s administration did. He acknowledged that no government, anywhere in the world, can resolve every issue a nation encounters.
Shehu further explained, “If there were hardships or problems, these should be examined to understand their origins. No administration in this country had to grapple with economic issues like Buhari’s due to our heavy reliance on oil and the plummeting oil prices. Additionally, the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic was felt as nations closed their borders, leading to an economic downturn. But, thankfully, Buhari successfully navigated the Nigerian economy out of that crisis.”
These comments follow remarks by the First Lady, Remi Tinubu, who pointed out that President Bola Tinubu inherited an economy with significant challenges from Buhari. She stressed that Tinubu cannot perform miracles but will work towards repairing the damage done to the country.