Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, has taken Nigerians by surprise with a revealing account of a private conversation he shared with the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
Speaking on the sidelines of Buhari’s burial ceremony in Daura on Tuesday, July 15.
The governor said Buhari expressed pity and even admiration for President Bola Tinubu’s bold removal of the petrol subsidy.
Buhari’s Rare Praise for Tinubu’s Subsidy Removal
Governor Radda quoted Buhari saying, “I pity Bola (Tinubu) for what he is doing. He is a brave man for removing the fuel subsidy.”
The late president, according to Radda, confessed that during his own tenure.
Attempts to eliminate the subsidy were repeatedly blocked by numerous advisors and pressures from various quarters.
Buhari’s words clearly acknowledged the political courage Tinubu showed.
“If Tinubu had consulted people, he could not have removed the fuel subsidy now,” Radda recalled Buhari saying.
Fuel Subsidy: A National Powder Keg Ignored by Past Leaders
Removing the petrol subsidy was not new on Nigeria’s political agenda.
Buhari had tried and failed, embroiled in endless pushback from vested interests and public outcry over potential inflationary consequences.
Tinubu’s swift action sparked sharp inflation spikes, soaring transportation costs, and widespread public discontent.
Yet Buhari’s pity for the bold move underscores how politically sensitive and dangerous the subsidy issue remains in Nigeria’s corridors of power.
A Nation Mourning a “Strong Man from Katsina”
Governor Radda’s emotions were visible as he mourned the loss of Buhari calling him a “strong man” and a “president for the poor.”
He emphasized the difficulty of filling the vacuum left by Buhari’s death.
“Hatsina lost a strong man. We don’t know how we will get his replacement,” he lamented, stressing Buhari’s humility and guidance during private meetings since his retirement in 2023.
Buhari’s Post-Presidency: Quiet Yet Impactful
Unlike outspoken predecessors, Buhari spent most of his post-presidential years in relative seclusion in Daura and abroad for medical treatment before passing away on July 14, 2025, in London.
Governor Radda recalled that during that time, he often visited Buhari and engaged in enlightening discussions on patriotism and leadership.
Buhari encouraged honesty and perseverance despite the impossibility of fully satisfying Nigerians.
“He told me: ‘Your Excellency, keep doing your best but only God can change Nigeria,’” the governor said.
The Harsh Political Reality behind Subsidy Removal
Buhari’s pity for Tinubu reveals a rare truth: Nigeria’s leadership faces enormous pressures when tackling unpopular but necessary reforms.
The fuel subsidy costs billions annually, draining public coffers and enriching cartels. But removing it enrages citizens and politicians alike.
Buhari’s failure and Tinubu’s success (or recklessness) illuminates a system where reforms meet fierce resistance.
Tinubu’s Bold Move: Bravery or Political Gambit?
This private praise from Buhari might look like an endorsement.
Yet, the price Nigerians pay—with soaring fuel prices and rising living costs fuels anger.
Some perceive Tinubu’s move as courageous leadership.
Others decry it as insensitive populism, relieved from necessary consultation and marshaling of public consensus.
Implications for Nigerian Governance and Reform
Governor Radda’s account unveils the harsh realities faced by leaders attempting reforms in Nigeria.
It debunks narratives of leaders acting in isolation or without consequences.
Often, political actors are trapped between needed transformation and popular backlash.
Buhari’s pity encapsulates the loneliness and danger embedded in such bold decisions.
The Vacuum Buhari Left Behind Is Real
Radda mourned Buhari’s death as a major loss.
Beyond politics, he described Buhari as friendly and wise a mentor who humbly accepted the limits of human leadership.
The “void” Buhari’s passing created is felt deeply in Katsina and nationally, as many question who can rise to his stature amid Nigeria’s turbulent politics.
Final Words from Katsina Governor
In closing, Governor Radda reminded Nigerians of Buhari’s legacy rooted in sacrifice, struggle, and a restless hope for change.
This candid revelation invites the nation to reconsider the complexities behind Nigeria’s political decisions, far beyond social media outrage and popular dissent.
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