Former Emir Sanusi Blasts Tinubu Over Buhari Legacy, Questions Extravagant Spending
In a strongly worded message, former Emir of Kano and ex-Central Bank Governor, Mohammed Sanusi II, has faulted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s claim that he inherited a “dilapidated Nigeria” from former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The respected Islamic and economic figure challenged the credibility of Tinubu’s statement by citing a series of what he described as extravagant and insensitive government expenditures under the current administration.
Sanusi, known for his bold and uncompromising stance on governance and economic discipline, questioned how a leader who claims to have inherited a struggling economy could approve such large-scale spending on non-essential items.
“How can a President that claimed to have inherited a dilapidated Nigeria be spending public funds extravagantly, as if he inherited a rich and prosperous country?” the former Emir asked rhetorically.
Among the expenditures Sanusi listed include:
₦21 billion to renovate the Vice President’s residence
₦70 billion allocated to National Assembly members for the purchase of luxury SUVs
₦4 billion for renovation of Dodan Barracks and another ₦3 billion for Aguda House
₦5 billion for a Tax Reforms Committee chaired by Taiwo Oyedele, with “nothing to show for it”
₦1.5 billion to purchase official vehicles for First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu an office not constitutionally recognized
300% salary increase for judges
₦5 billion for new presidential fleet vehicles and another ₦5 billion allegedly for a presidential yacht
₦225 billion purportedly spent on a presidential jet
₦90 billion spent on the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage
Billions budgeted for foreign trips by the President and Vice President
Alleged monthly earnings of ₦21 million for Senators and ₦13.5 million for Members of the House of Representatives
The controversial ₦15 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, awarded to a Lebanese businessman, Gilbert Chagoury, which Sanusi claims was done illegally
Sanusi also took issue with the size of the Tinubu cabinet, accusing the president of forming the largest ministerial team in Nigeria’s history, which further strains national resources.
The former Emir’s message adds to growing public scrutiny of the Tinubu administration’s fiscal priorities at a time when many Nigerians are grappling with inflation, rising food prices, and fuel subsidy removal.
So far, there has been no official response from the presidency regarding Sanusi’s claims.
This development is likely to fuel further public debate on the true state of Nigeria’s economy and the fiscal responsibility of its leaders.
