YOU ARE NOT BUHARI, YOU ARE TINUBU - Lauretta Onochie

YOU CANNOT TURN 2015 TO 2023.

There is something increasingly confusing about the narrative being presented to Nigerians in the last few days.

When President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office on 29th of May 2015, Nigeria was confronted by a genuine salary crisis at the state level.

Twenty-seven out of the 36 states were unable to meet their salary obligations. Some workers had accumulated months of unpaid salaries.

That is not folklore. It is not tale by the moonlight. It is part of Nigeria's documented history. Pres. Buhari spoke and agonised about it. The Nigerian Media, made headlines out of the issue. 

The Buhari administration responded with an extraordinary financial intervention designed to help distressed states clear salary arrears. The relief package had several components:

First, $2.1 billion from Nigeria LNG proceeds was shared through the Federation Account.

Second, the Central Bank of Nigeria established a special intervention facility through which distressed states could obtain long-term, concessionary loans specifically to address outstanding salaries.

Third, the Federal Government facilitated the restructuring of more than ₦660 billion in commercial debts owed by states, extending repayment periods and reducing the immediate debt-service pressure on state finances.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, subsequently monitored the bailout programme and confirmed that the intervention was intended to address the backlog of workers' salaries.

This is important because history must not be rewritten for political convenience. President Buhari did not manufacture the salary crisis.

He inherited it. But he did not fold his arms and let it continue. His government intervened.

I repeat: The inability of 27 states to meet their obligations to workers was already confronting the country when Baba's administration came into office and his support ensured that the states met those obligations till he left office. 

Again, the Buhari-led Federal Government did not merely hold press conferences explaining why workers could not be paid and roasting Governors.

It put substantial financial machinery behind solving the problem. 

He was an empath, unlike the stone-hearted Tinubu. According to Baba Buhari, he earned salaries throughout his public service career and could not imagine one month without his salary. 

That distinction matters. Which brings us to the present..

A few months ago, it was spooky but suspicious when President Tinubu claimed he was Buhari. Many thought he was high on something. But the events of the last few days have shown that he seriously planned to impersonate Pres. Buhari because he is now regurgitating Buhari's 2015 experiences as his own. 

Tinubu's Federal Government is now advancing a narrative Nigerians heard at the beginning of the Buhari administration — that states were financially distressed, that inherited liabilities were overwhelming governments, and that workers' salaries were consequently under pressure when Baba assumed office— Nigerians are entitled to ask some very basic questions. 

How many times can the same crisis be inherited?

Where exactly did the improvements achieved through previous interventions disappear to? Is 2015 the same year as 2023?

This is nothing but a diversionary measure to divert the attention of the opposition and Nigerians from asking vital questions regarding the looting spree going on in Tinubu's administration. For instance:

What happened to the vastly increased revenues accruing to governments following the removal of fuel subsidy?

What happened to the increased Federation Account allocations repeatedly celebrated as evidence that states now have more money?

And if states are receiving considerably larger nominal allocations today, why are you preparing  Nigerians once again for explanations about governments struggling to perform the most elementary obligations of an employer, especially to our retired military heroes, government contractors and even Ministers?

YOU ARE NOT BUHARI. YOU ARE TINUBU.

This is where the attempt to invoke Buhari-era circumstances becomes problematic for Tinubu.

The circumstances are not identical.

Buhari assumed office during a severe fiscal crisis characterised by collapsing oil revenues at $27 per barrel and states already carrying huge salary arrears. His government acknowledged the problem and constructed bailout facilities, debt restructuring and other interventions to address it.

Therefore, anybody wishing to mistake 2023 situation with 2015 must be swimming in a white powdery substance and must provide Nigerians with the complete comparison — not merely recycle the language of hardship by claiming what you did not do.

Tell Nigerians:

Where has the additional revenue from Subsidy Removal gone?

There must eventually be accountability.

President Buhari inherited 27 states struggling to pay salaries. You did not. 

His administration intervened with bailout loans, debt restructuring and other financial support.

That history is documented.

Because governments may recycle political rhetoric. They may recycle speeches. They may even recycle excuses. But they cannot be permitted to transfer and recycle identities. You are Tinubu. You are not Buhari. 

— Lauretta Onochie 

@Laurestar