The President of Nigeria, Mohammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress, APC Presidential Candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, are presently working at dangerous cross-purpose on the economic survival of Nigeria.
While the president has thrown his weight behind Nigeria’s Central Bank on the new bank notes policy, Tinubu on the other hand, is piqued and resentful to President Buhari’s open support for the CBN’s decision to redesign some of the nation’s currencies.
Before the CBN extention of the deadline for the return of old Naira notes to banks, from January 31 to February 10, 2023, Buhari had dismissed the possibility of extention of deadline. The Senate has also passed a resolution directing the CBN to extend deadline to June 2023, far after the elections.
Buhari’s adamant and unshakable resolve to tame illicit money earners has angered the APC presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to the extent that he lashed the president and leader of his party during his campaign in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Tinubu also accused Buhari of planning to frustrate his chances at the polls and to also stop the election from holding on schedule. He made the disturbing accusations last Wednesday January 25, 2023 at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta.
Tinubu claimed that there was a plot by some ‘saboteurs’ to stop the 2023 general elections from holding. This is serious in all ramifications and demands special attention by security agencies.
“Let fuel be expensive, only they know where they keep it. Keep petrol, keep the naira, we will vote and be elected. You may change the ink of naira notes. What you expect will not happen. We will win.” Tinubu said in yoruba dialect.
The APC candidate did not stop at that, he addled: “They said petrol will rise to N200/litre and N500/litre, let your mind be at rest. They don’t want these forthcoming elections to hold. They want to scatter it but that would not be possible.
“They thought they could cause trouble; they sabotaged fuel but with or without fuel, with or without motorcycles and tricycles, we will vote and win.
“This is a superior revolution.” Tinubu angrily charged his crowd.
Curiously, Tinubu has been in the Vanguard of campaigning to continue the policies of President Buhari from whom he wrestled the APC presidential ticket from. His latest outburst however, is a confirmation of the uneasiness that has existed within APC since the former Lagos State Governor allegedly bought his party’s presidential ticket.
Tinubu’s allegation and revelation of plans to distabilize the country through the CBN and the Petroleum Ministry is a cause of worry for Nigerians, considering the fact that his party, through President Buhari has thrown weight behind the CBN. Tinubu’s outburst and allegation of sharp practices in the petroleum distribution is a direct indictment on President Buhari who is the Minister of Petroleum.
Conversely, Tinubu has been insisting that, the APC policies are geared towards the good growth and prosperity of Nigeria. As a matter of fact, he has promised to continue Buhari’s programs if voted as president.
Flowing from Tinubu’s fire-spitting, fire-eating new attitude, this paper is constrained to hold a view that the APC presidential candidate may be crying wolf now, because he fears that the CBN may frustrate his plan and that of others to compromise electorates during the February 25th elections.
Our position is strengthened with the fact that Tinubu has been accused in the past of parading bullion vans on the eve of elections. Going by his antecedents, we view his outlandish accusation against the president as confirmation that he may be guilty of stockpiling and hoarding cash in his private residence.
It will be recalled that in February 2019, viral pictures on social media showed two bullion vans being driven into Tinubu’s Bourdillon residence in Lagos, with several people in and outside of the compound.
Tinubu went ahead days after that strange discovery to claim that the money in the bullion vans belong him and not ballot papers as was being speculated.
“Excuse me, is it my money or government money? So, even if I have money to spend in my premises, what is your headache?
“Excuse me, if I don’t represent any agency of government and I have money to spend, if I have money, if I like, I give it to the people free of charge. As long as not to buy votes.
“So, who are those watching my house and looking at bullion vans? They must be mischief makers, they report falsehood, their lies are numerous, and it’s because they are jobless.” Bola Ahmed Tinubu irritatingly replied his accusers.
Tinubu’s boisterous response amounts to open affront on Nigeria’s financial institution laws and except Bourdillon has been granted license to operate as bank, bureau de change or finance house, he has knowingly arrogantly committed financial crime.
The Midwest Herald commends President Buhari for standing with Mr. Godwin Emefiele, Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria on the currency redesigning, as we agree with him, that it will reduce the problem of vote buying, ransom payment and money laundry.
Also, we call on Buhari to mandate the security agencies to invite his party’s presidential candidate, to give details of his allegation that, the current petrol scarcity is linked to the plan to frustrate the February and March 2023 elections.
We condemn in strong terms, the reckless manner, Tinubu has been inciting his followers against President Buhari, especially at the APC’s Presidential Rally in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where he accused Mr. President of attempting to subvert the electoral process.