Former Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, has criticized the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) for expressing regret over supporting President Bola Tinubu.
In an interview with Daily Trust, Masari argued that the NEF’s support for Tinubu was based on personal expectations rather than principles.
Masari stated that it is premature to harshly judge Tinubu’s administration, which has been in power for less than a year.
According to him, the criticisms, especially regarding the removal of the fuel subsidy, are unfounded as all major presidential candidates had campaigned on the promise of removing the subsidy.
“Those who say they are regretting supporting him (Tinubu) are saying it because they did not support on principles.
They supported him on expectations, and when those expectations were not met for them, then they could say they regretted it,” Masari said.
He further noted that a government with a four-year term should not be judged so quickly after just a few months.
Masari pointed out that the economic challenges facing Nigeria are not unique to the country, implying that similar difficulties are being experienced globally.
He also dismissed the criticisms from opposition figures like Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, arguing that they would not have handled the situation any better.
“Some of the people who are talking now, their own would have been worse.
“Since during the campaign, all the political parties, including those who are talking now, didn’t they promise that they would remove subsidy?” Masari stated.
He urged Nigerians to give the administration time to implement its policies effectively.
The NEF had previously stated that the North made a mistake by voting for Tinubu.
