The presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has alleged that the current fuel scarcity rocking the country is a ploy to scuttle the 2023 general elections.
Tinubu made the allegation in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, during his campaign on Wednesday. He said besides the fuel scarcity, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s decision to redesign the naira is also part of the plan.
Nigerians are grappling with months-long fuel scarcity that has impacted life and businesses, compounding the already bad state of livelihood in the country. Besides that, the CBN announced the redesign of naira notes and new cashless policy late last year, a set of monetary policies that has pitted the apex bank governor against politicians. The central bank gave a January 31 deadline to phase out the old naira notes.
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Tinubu said the developments are deliberate attempts by mischief makers to cause disaffection among the citizenry towards the APC. He said the naira redesign is part of the conspiracies and mischief from certain elements within the corridors of power, who want to frustrate the citizenry.
“Even if they said there is no fuel, we will trek to vote. They have a lot of mischief; they could say there is no fuel. This one too, they think they can cause crisis by sabotaging fuel supply,” he said.
“They are sabotaging fuel supply. Whether there is fuel or not, whether there is Okada (motorcycle) or not, whether there is tricycle or not, we will go and vote and we shall win. This is a superior revolution and when I tell you, you know what I mean. You know me, we are going there to win.
“They have been scheming to create fuel crisis, but forget about it. Relax, I, Asiwaju have told you that the issue of fuel supply will be permanently addressed. Whoever wants to eat the honey embedded in a mountain won’t worry about the axe. Is that not so? And if you want to eat palm kernel, you would bring stone and use it to break it, then the kernel will come out. It’s not easy.
“Let them increase the price of fuel, only them know where they have hoarded fuel. They hoarded money, they hoarded Naira; we will go and vote and we will win. Even if they change the ink on the Naira notes. Whatever their plans, it will come to nought. We are going to win. Those in the PDP will lose (wón ma lu lè).
“This is a revolution. This election is a revolution. They are plotting, but they will fail. They said fuel price will increase and reach N200 per litre. Go and relax. They don’t want this election to hold, they want to scuttle it,” Tinubu lamented.
The naira redesign, which comes with a withdrawal policy that limits how much both individuals and corporate organizations can withdraw per week to N500,000 and N5 million respectively, has been hailed as a practical idea to stop politicians from buying votes in the forthcoming election.
However, Tinubu’s outburst has been described as an attack on President Muhammadu Buhari, who doubles as the petroleum minister. Buhari, who has failed to solve the lingering fuel scarcity challenge, has repeatedly said that the central bank governor Godwin Emefiele has his backing in his policies.
Responding to Tinubu’s allegations, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, said the APC’s presidential flagbearer is frustrated that he would not be able to induce voters with money due to the CBN’s policy.
In a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, the Special Assistant, Public Communication to Atiku, Phrank Shaibu, said Tinubu is pained that the CBN’s cashless policy and currency redesign would curb vote buying and enhance the credibility of next month’s election.
“Even though the CBN policy affects all 18 political parties, Tinubu is the only one frustrated because his plan to deploy bullion vans and bribe poor voters and security agents on the day of election has failed woefully.
“Recall that on the eve of the 2019 Presidential election, two cash laden bullion vans were pictured entering Tinubu’s premises located on 26 Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi. Several petitions were written to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) but nothing was done.
“Also frustrated by President Muhammadu Buhari’s unwillingness to attend some of his insipid rallies, Tinubu launched an attack against the President who doubles as the Minister of Petroleum.
“It is funny that Tinubu is just commenting over the fuel scarcity which started in different parts of the country as far back as February 2022. In Lagos, where Tinubu claims to be the landlord, the state has been witnessing fuel queues since last November. It is therefore dubious of Tinubu to try to extricate himself from the failures of his party because elections are 30 days away,” Shaibu said.
He added that Tinubu is making spurious statements because he knows he wouldn’t win, which makes him paranoid.
“Besides, the so-called Lagos godfather, who says he will remove petrol subsidy on his first day in office if he wins, told the people of Ogun State that he will push the price of petrol below N200 per litre. It is obvious that he has not even read his own manifesto.
“Tinubu’s paranoia is clearly getting the best of him. He has gone from attacking the leader of his own party to Igbos and northerners all because he believes they are not supporting his failed Presidential ambition.
“For a man who claimed to have single handedly made Buhari President, it is funny that he is now running from pillar to post all in a bid to save what is left of his failed campaign.
“Having seen his imminent defeat at the polls, he is already using the fuel scarcity and naira redesign as excuses,” he said.