A screenshot circulating on WhatsApp, attributed to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Adebayo Olawale Edun, claims that Edun stated that “Nigerians mostly especially northerners should hold their own brother, Buhari, responsible for the hardship and hunger. Buhari sold Nigeria’s crude oil for two years upfront and collected the money before leaving office. We are only supplying crude without collecting money. We cannot arrest or probe him because of party affiliation with the APC. “
The post suggests that the Minister of Finance accused former President Muhammadu Buhari, who also served as the Minister of Petroleum during his tenure, of selling crude oil in advance for two years, allegedly leading to a situation where Nigeria is now supplying crude oil without receiving payment.
Furthermore, the post implies that due to Buhari’s affiliation with the APC, he cannot be probed or arrested.
The screenshot in question appears to be from a Facebook post by a user named Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan, who expressed concern with the exclamation, “Nigeria is finished.” At the time of this fact-check, the post had garnered 147 likes, 83 comments, and 93 shares, indicating significant engagement and the potential spread of misinformation or disinformation.
Verification:
- Appointment and Role of Wale Edun: Wale Edun was appointed as the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy in August 2023. Before this appointment, former President Muhammadu Buhari served as both the President of Nigeria and the Minister of Petroleum. These roles were separate, and there has been no public record or credible source indicating that Buhari sold Nigeria’s crude oil upfront for two years before leaving office.
- Source Verification: Upon conducting a thorough search on Google and social media, no credible news outlet or verified source has reported this alleged statement. The quote attributed to Wale Edun does not appear on any official social media accounts associated with him or the Ministry of Finance.
- No Official Confirmation: The Ministry of Finance has not released any statement confirming or denying this allegation. However, the absence of this information in credible media suggests that the claim is likely fabricated.
- Analysis of the Language Used: The language used in the alleged statement appears sensational and lacks the formality typically expected from a high-ranking government official. Phrases like “mostly especially northerners” and the direct accusation against a former president without substantive evidence raise doubts about the authenticity of the statement.
Conclusion:
This claim is false. The screenshot circulating on social media does not represent an official statement from the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun. It is essential to rely on credible news sources and official statements when verifying such claims to avoid the spread of misinformation and disinformation.
