The Federal Government of Nigeria has responded to statements credited to Muhammadu Sanusi II, the embattled Emir of the ancient city of Kano.
Mr Sanusi, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), said on Wednesday, Jan. 15, in Lagos, as the chairman of the 21st Anniversary of Fawehinmiism (Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture 2025), that he was unwilling to help the government explain its policies to the people because of the way they had treated him.
“Honestly, I can give a few contrary points that explain perhaps what we’re going through and how it was predictable, most of it, and maybe avoidable. But I am not going to do that.
“I have chosen not to speak about the economy or the reforms or even to explain anything because if I explain, it would help this government, but I don’t want to help this government,” Sanusi said.
The Government Responds
The government, reacting through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, in a statement released Thursday, January 16, 2025, said it agreed that “Sanusi, like any Nigerian, has the right to express his opinion.” However, they found it amusing that a leader would “shuffle off telling the truth because of personal interest.“
The government emphasized, “Nigeria is at a pivotal juncture where bold and decisive actions are necessary.” They noted that the reforms are essential for long-term stability and growth.
Sanusi acknowledged the “temporary pains” as a “necessary consequence of decades of irresponsible economic management.“
“I don’t want to help this government. They’re my friends. If they don’t behave like friends, I don’t behave like a friend… They don’t even have people with credibility who can come and explain what they are doing. I’m not going to help”
— @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) January 15, 2025
— Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi pic.twitter.com/6ZZHw97YXn
The government highlighted progress from the reforms. “The unification of exchange rates has bolstered investor confidence,” they said. “The removal of the fuel subsidy has freed up significant resources.”
Mohammed said, “Projections from respected institutions, including the World Bank, show an upward trajectory in Nigeria’s GDP.“
The statement concluded that the government is disappointed that Sanusi, given his background in economics, would “undermine reforms aimed at collective progress.”
They urged Sanusi to “rise above personal interests and prioritize the greater good of Nigerians.“
The government called on leaders to “refrain from rhetoric that undermines public trust” and champion a prosperous Nigeria for “economic inclusivity, sustainability, and shared prosperity.“
“Let history record this moment as a turning point—when leaders and citizens alike choose to prioritize the nation’s destiny over personal gain,” the government statement concluded.
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