Elizabeth O.
Former President Buhari Defends Emefiele and Naira Redesign Policy in Memoir
Buhari clarifies that he did not dismiss Emefiele during that time as Emefiele had never discussed his presidential ambition with him.
The memoir, authored by Femi Adesina, former Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, was presented in Abuja on Tuesday, January 16. It also highlights the former President’s defense of his administration’s Naira redesign policy, which was implemented by Emefiele at the time. Buhari contends that this policy played a role in ensuring a fair and transparent general election in 2023.
According to the memoir, Buhari asserts that the individuals who criticized the policy were those who possessed significant amounts of money. In the book’s 12th chapter, he explains that the scarcity of money was not intentionally imposed to punish Nigerians. Buhari emphasizes that democracy allows people to express their will freely, and his administration did not seek to control them. The former President cites the example of his state, Katsina, where the All Progressives Congress (APC) lost the presidential poll but later emerged victorious in the governorship election. He suggests that the initial loss may have been due to people feeling taken for granted and underscores the importance of not unjustly punishing individuals based on hearsay or without concrete evidence.
Buhari emphasizes that unjustly punishing someone can have lasting negative consequences, and therefore, evidence should be considered before taking any action. He also acknowledges that his tenure as President would eventually come to an end, implying that decisions should not be made solely based on the present circumstances.
