Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the presidential flagbearer of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, on Tuesday urged Nigerians to remain calm and maintain peace while allowing the Buhari-led federal government to tackle with the worsening fuel and new Naira notes scarcity.
The scarcity of the new naira notes and the short deadline issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria has generated tension in the country.
In the last one week, protests have broken out in various states and cities across the country, with many lamenting the hardship Nigerians are being subjected to.
Viral video clips of half-clad customers breaking down bank gates and threatening to beat officials have also surfaced on social media space.
However, addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, Tinubu sympathised with Nigerians, especially the downtrodden, who he said have been made to bear the brunt of the new Naira policy by the Central Bank as well as the irregular supply of petrol that have combined to inflict avoidable pains on the masses.
He commended the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited for the fuel supply relief being enjoyed in the Federal Capital Territory and urges the company to step up its act to bring relief to other part of the country.
He also urges the CBN not to be dogmatic in the deadline it has fixed for the transition from old Naira notes to the new one, especially as the unintended consequence of the policy has been massive pain on our people.
According to him, he is distressed by news of cash strapped farmers having to sell their products excessively cheap to avoid losing all.
He said, “This is a challenging period in the life of our country when our people are made to stay on the line for hours to get fuel and even get their own money from the banks. I empathise with Nigerians across the country especially the poor masses who have been made to bear the brunt and pains of the CBN Naira policy and fuel scarcity the most.
“While government continues to work to solve these problems, let’s stay calm, maintain the peace and continue to shun and avoid any act capable of causing civil unrest and disharmony. What the opposition and enemies of democracy want is to create a state of national siege and tension that can disrupt the coming general elections and create an atmosphere of strife in our country.
“We must say no to them. We must be resolute and stand firm to protect our democracy by ensuring we hold our elections in a peaceful and orderly manner. I am in this race to bring renewed hope and prosperity to all Nigerians.
“There are no challenges that will be difficult for us as a people to surmount when we stand in unity of purpose. When you elect me, I will work to ensure security, economic prosperity, national unity and cohesion and we will together build a country that will be a source of joy to us all and a pride to every black person everywhere in the world.”
