2023: Buhari’s Govt Sabotaging My Presidential Bid — Tinubu
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC Presidential Candidate
The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Wednesday took a swipe at the ruling APC-led Federal Government of President Muhammadu Buhari, alleging sabotage through fuel scarcity and naira redesign.
Tinubu, who spoke in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, during the APC presidential campaign rally at the MKO Abiola International Stadium also alleged plot to scuttle the election.
The former Lagos State governor, however, vowed that Nigerians will defy all odds to cast their votes, adding that the 2023 election would be a revolution.
“They don’t want this election to be held. They want to scuttle it. Will you allow them?” Tinubu asked the teeming supporters at the rally.
“They have started coming up with the issue of ‘no fuel’. Don’t worry, if there is no fuel, we will trek to cast the vote. If you like, increase the pump price of fuel, hide the fuel or change the ink on the naira notes, we will win the election,” he said.
“We will use PVCs to take over the government from them, if they like, let them say there is no fuel, we will trek there. They are full of mischief, they can say there is no fuel, they have started talking about fuel scarcity, forget about it, be rest assured. I, Asiwaju, will end fuel scarcity.
“Let the price of fuel continue to soar, they are the ones that know where they are hoarding it. You’re hoarding the naira notes, they are hoarding fuel, we will vote and we will win.
“If you like, change the ink in the naira note, you can spend lavishly and become a debtor, you will be shocked, we will win the election, the opposition (the umbrella party) will be defeated.
“I’m a youth, I’m here for you and you will not be put to shame. We will take over the government from them. They are traitors that want to wrestle the government from us; they have never done it before.
“This is a revolution; this election is a revolution. They are being cunny, they are jokers. When there’s nothing to say, they are creating artificial fuel scarcity, they are saying pump prices will increase to N200, N500, but let your mind be at rest, we will end fuel scarcity, we will end fuel crisis.”
Tinubu again reiterated his resolve for students’ loan, assuring that no student will drop out of the university because of money.
“I am assuring you one thing, there will be student loans, nobody will drop out of the university because of school fees; I guarantee you that. Nobody will have to repeat one class for eight years and not graduate, we are too smart, we are brilliant, we are courageous, we are sharp, we will make four years course four years course. You agree, will you vote, whether there is fuel or not.
“They think they can create problems, they are sabotaging fuel, whether there’s fuel or not, whether there’s a bicycle or not, whether there is tricycle or not, we will go and vote and we will win.
“This is a superior revolution and when I tell you, you know what I mean, you know me, we are going to go there to win.”
Sagay Backs Tinubu, Says Somebody Is Playing A Game
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), has thrown his weight behind the claim by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the ruling APC, that there are attempts to sabotage his presidential bid through naira redesign and fuel scarcity.
Speaking with Daily Independent, Sagay said he is surprised that President Muhammadu Buhari has not called Godwin Emefiele, the CBN governor, to order on his insistence that there is no going back on the January 31 deadline for the usage of the old naira notes.
“I suspect that because when people in responsible positions begin to create hardship and annoyance and anger in the population which will be directed against the government, just before an election, the effect of that is that the government is going to be blamed by the voters and they may decide out of anger to vote for another party. It will drive away votes from the ruling party which they will blame for the conditions and circumstances being created by these very dangerous people.
“What Emefiele is trying to do in saying you cannot use the existing currency after 31st of January in a situation where the new currency is not available to be used is a plot to create disaffection for the government and indirectly create an unfavourable image for that government before the populace in a few weeks to an election. There is no question about that.
“What is surprising is that no one is stopping him. The president has not stopped him and he is saying there is no going back in an action which is a sabotage of the goodwill of that government. It is just incredible.
“On fuel scarcity, I can’t understand it. It has never happened before. This is going to three months now and the NNPC is saying there is no shortage, they have enough supply for another three months. Yet, we cannot find the petrol anywhere. Somebody is a playing a game. I suspect after the election we are going to have petrol.
“I agree with what Tinubu is saying. Something underhand is going on in this country which is intended to affect the outcome of the election”.
Blackmailing Buhari Won’t Save Asiwaju From Defeat— Atiku
Again, the Atiku/Okowa Campaign Organisation has berated Tinubu for trying to blackmailPresidentBuhariand blame the APC-led Federal Government over his looming devastating rejection by Nigerians.
“Our campaign finds it pathetic that Asiwaju Tinubu is seeking a face-saving measure ahead of his shattering electoral defeat by shedding crocodile tears and claiming that the redesigning of the naira notes and the fuel crisis under the APC administration, which he has reportedly been corruptly benefitting, were plots to scuttle the 2023 general elections,” the campaign said.
The Atiku/Okowa Campaign Organisation, in a statement by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, said it is unfortunate that Tinubu is trying to hoodwink Nigerians by seeking to exonerate himself and blame others in the Buhari led-APC administration from the biting fuel scarcity in the country, when in reality he (Asiwaju Tinubu) is known to be behind the insensitive and anti-people policies that have brought so much calamity to the country including the current persistent fuel scarcity.
“It indeed speaks volumes of Asiwaju Tinubu’s character, that while he is reported to be hugely involved in the corruption in the petroleum sector, which had led to the fuel crisis, he is pretending to care for the pains Nigerians are passing through just because it was beginning to affect his political life ambition.
“Furthermore, it is clear that Asiwaju Tinubu is lamenting over the redesigning of the naira just because the policy has frustrated his boastful plots to use slush fund, which he reportedly stashed away in secret vaults, for vote buying and manipulative schemes including alleged funding of thugs to compromise the integrity of the 2023 presidential election through the setting up of the Jagaban Army.
“Of course, only politicians who have always won elections by relying on bullion vans have become troubled over the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) monetary policy to redesign the naira.
“More reprehensible is the fact that few months to the end of the Buhari government, Asiwaju Tinubu is now struggling to distance himself from an administration which he told the world that he brought into office just because he wants to beguile Nigerians and take their votes,” the campaign said.
