2023: Tinubu claims fuel scarcity, naira redesign ploy to sabotage elections; “Stop going to Abeokuta”_ Obi tells Tinubu

The Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has alleged that the current fuel scarcity in the country and Naira redesign were meant to sabotage the general elections.

The APC presidential candidate stated this while addressing a mammoth crowd of APC members and supporters at the presidential campaign rally held at the MKO Abiola International Stadium in Abeokuta on Wednesday.

Tinubu specifically said the fuel crisis and the scarcity of the redesigned naira notes were artificially created to discourage people from voting for the APC.

The candidate, in a vague reference to the powers that be, wondered why the fuel scarcity which began in October last year had failed to abate.

Tinubu alleged that the powers that be were behind the fuel crisis and scarcity of the new naira notes to scuttle the election.

He called on the people to remain resolute and resist any attempt by anyone to stop the election from holding and described the forthcoming election as “a superior revolution” that will usher in the new government.

Tinubu said, “We will use our PVCs to take over government from them, if they like let them create fuel crisis, even if they said there is no fuel, we will trek to vote. They are full of mischief, they could say there is no fuel. They have been scheming to create a 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 to…

“Let them increase the price of fuel, let them continue to hoard 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 changed the ink on Naira notes. Whatever their plans, it will come to nought. We are going to win. Those in the PDP will lose.

“I am homeboy, I have come here, you will not be put to shame, we will take over the government from them, the traitors who wanted to contest with us. They had no experience.

“The great Nigerian youths, the great Nigerian students, the confident Nigerian youths. 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. Do you agree?

“On this one, I’m guaranteeing you one thing: there will be a student loan. Nobody will drop out of University because of school fees. I guarantee you that. Nobody will have to repeat for eight years, and not graduate. Haba! We are too smart, we are brilliant, we are courageous, we are sharp, we will make four years course four years course. Do you agree? Will you vote on whether there is fuel or not? Call your sister, we are bringing revolution. Let me say what’s on my mind. The other day, I told you. This one too, they think they can cause a crisis by sabotaging the fuel supply. They are sabotaging the fuel supply. Whether there is fuel or not, whether there is Okada (commercial motorcycle) or not, whether there is a 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.”

Tinubu who also called on the people of the state to go all out and claim their permanent voter’s cards still left at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission said that they would be able to ensure his victory if they make it their duty to claim their permanent voter’s card.

Meanwhile, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party Peter Obi has Reacted via a statement by the Head of Media, Obi/Datti Presidential Campaign Council, Diran Onifade, urging Tinubu’s handlers to tell him to stop going to Abeokuta.

Recall that prior to the APC presidential primaries last year, Tinubu was in Abeokuta where he went into a tirade, calling out those he perceived to be working against his ambition including the state governor, Dapo Abiodun who he infamously referred to as ‘Eleyi’ – Yoruba condescending way of saying ‘You.’

He also made a mockery of Buhari’s previous electoral losses when he said the president failed (“O lule”) three times before he (Tinubu) came to his aid.

He didn’t stop there, the then-aspirant also claimed that it was his turn to be president by saying “Emi lokan”.

Making reference to the incident, Obi wondered why his APC opponent always seemed to get things wrong anytime he goes to Abeokuta.

“If I were to be Tinubu’s adviser, I would have advised him to stop going to Abeokuta. It was in the same Abeokuta that he made the gaffe of ‘Olule’ and how President Muhammadu Buhari was crying on TV, ’emi lokan’ and all that.

“Now, he (Tinubu) is saying the fuel scarcity is meant to make the elections fail and how they are going to take over power from them. Who are they or them?

“He could have been talking to the CBN governor (Godwin Emefiele) and the Minister of Petroleum and who is the minister of petroleum in this respect, President Muhammadu Buhari. The same man that Tinubu has been campaigning that he wants to take over from and continue the good work.

“I think his advisers should advise him to stop going to Abeokuta because he gets things wrong every time he goes there,” the statement read.