Yes, that’s the contradiction. And contradictions kill intelligent defense.
“Removal of Oil Subsidy: President Jonathan breaks social contract with the people” by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, January 11, 2012. Published in The Nation newspaper.
In January 2012, Jonathan removed subsidy. Petrol jumped from ₦65 to ₦141. Inflation hit 12.6%. The opposition called it “anti-people,” “clueless,” “economic illiteracy.” Tinubu wrote a letter, “Removal of fuel subsidy: President Jonathan breaks social contract with the people.” Lagos shut down. Occupy Nigeria was born.
May 2023, Tinubu removed subsidy. Petrol jumped from ₦195 to ₦540 overnight, now ₦1,000 plus. Inflation is 34.19%. Food up 40% year-on-year. Same policy. Different verdict: “bold,” “necessary,” “courageous.”
The economics didn’t change. The politics did.
If subsidy removal was wrong with ₦160/$ and 12% inflation, how is it right with ₦1,600/$ and 34% inflation? If “palliative” was a scam in 2012, why is it strategy in 2023?
Defending this needs amnesia. You must forget your own essays, protests, and tweets. Intelligence can defend a U-turn with new data. It cannot defend a U-turn with worse data.
That’s why the defense sounds stupid. You’re not arguing policy. You’re laundering loyalty. Facts don’t change based on who signs the memo.
Call it what it is, hypocrisy. Or stop pretending 2012 didn’t happen.
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