Why Buhari approved last-minute funds-Aide

By Biola Adebayo On May 25, 2023

Muhammadu Buhari, Promissory note, Ahmed Lawan, Judgement debts, — President Muhammadu Buhari presides over the Valedictory Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting and swears in the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) Board and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo presents the Health Care Reform Committee Report to Buhari and FEC at the State House, Abuja on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. (Photos: State House)

The Presidency, on Wednesday, explained that President Muhammadu Buhari gave the nod for last-minute funds a few days away to handover to the administration of Bola Tinubu because the government needs funds to clear debts.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina stated this on Channels Television’s Politics Today while assessing the performance of Buhari’s eight-year tenure in office.

“A wicked man pays and owes not, that is what the good book says. When you owe and you refuse to pay, the Bible says you are a wicked man. If the government is owing all those debts, why shouldn’t it pay? It should pay.

“The government has a mandate from a time to a certain time, that mandate was from 2019 to 2023, so the government is working,” he said.

The President had earlier on Wednesday written to the Senate, seeking approval for a request to pay the judgement debt in the sum of $566,754,584, £98,526 and N226 billion.

It was gathered that the monies were owed by the Federal Government through the issuance of promissory notes.

The President’s letter of request was read at plenary by Senate President Ahmad Lawan during plenary on Wednesday, four months after 648 cases were brought against the President and other Federal Government parastatals.

Meanwhile, Buhari failed to dissolve his cabinet at the last valedictory Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday and Adesina said that there is no rule that says the president should dissolve his cabinet after valedictory.

“It depends on the President. Style is typical to each person, that is the style of the President. He wants them to work till the very last day. We know some Presidents who would dissolve after the last FEC meeting, that is their own style,” he stated.

According to the presidential aide, the Buhari administration did not fight dissenting voices, adding that it accommodated every shade of opinion.

“Critics have the right to their opinion; they can make their own assessment. There are fact sheets published to show that the government worked, and it achieved a lot,” he said.