Former Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has criticized decades of economic mismanagement in Nigeria and refused to assist the Tinubu administration in explaining its reforms. Speaking at the Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Lecture, Sanusi highlighted the government's lack of credible voices and vowed to observe its policies.
Muhammadu Sanusi II, Emir of Kano and former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, has declined to support the Tinubu administration in explaining its economic reforms. At the 21st Chief Gani Fawehinmi memorial lecture in Lagos, Sanusi shared his reasons for staying silent on the government’s policies.
Addressing the audience at the event organized by the Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Sanusi remarked that while he could provide insights into the administration’s actions, doing so would only benefit the government—something he has deliberately chosen to avoid. The lecture, themed “Bretton Woods and African Economies: Can Nigerians Survive Another Structural Adjustment Programme?”, prompted discussions on Nigeria's economic challenges.
Sanusi criticized what he described as decades of poor economic management, noting that current issues are partially a predictable outcome of past policies. He lamented the lack of credible voices within the government to explain its decisions effectively.
“I could explain what is happening and how it was foreseeable, but I won’t. This administration needs to justify its policies to Nigerians without my help,” Sanusi said.
He described his current stance as one of observation, likening it to watching a movie, and expressed no intention of intervening. Sanusi emphasized that his decision stems from a disappointment in leadership and a refusal to support what he sees as avoidable missteps.
