The All Progressives Congress’ (APC) presidential candidate Ahmed Bola Tinubu asked Nigerians on Tuesday to keep calm and peace so that President Buhari’s administration can deal with the nation’s rising fuel shortage and shortage of new Naira notes.
Tension has been raised throughout the nation as a result of the limited supply of the new naira notes and the short deadline imposed by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Protests have erupted over the past week in a number of regions and towns around the nation, with many people bemoaning the difficulties that Nigerians must endure.
On social media, there have also been viral videos of consumers knocking down bank gates while wearing only their underwear and threatening to beat up employees.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, Tinubu expressed sympathy for Nigerians, particularly the poor, who he claimed were made to bear the brunt of the Central Bank’s new Naira policy as well as the erratic petrol supply, which together caused undue suffering for the general populace.
He applauded Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited for the improvement in fuel supply that the Federal Capital Territory is currently experiencing and urged the organization to step up its efforts to offer relief to other parts of the nation.
As a result of the policy’s unforeseen consequences, he also advises the CBN not to be dogmatic about the date it has set for the transition from the old to the new Naira notes
He claims he is troubled by reports of cash-strapped farmers being forced to sell their goods for exorbitantly low prices in order to avoid losing everything.
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.”