Before becoming the president, Bola Tinubu, the then-presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) raised the alarm that the Naira redesign policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was targetted at scuttling the 2023 presidential election.
Tinubu then urged Nigerians not to allow the development to weaken their spirits in coming out during the election to exercise their civic responsibility during the election in which he later won.
Tinubu says he invoked the “spirit of freedom” in Ijebu land against President Muhammadu Buhari and former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, when they appeared to be threatening his political ambition.
“Your monies were confiscated. The cash swap didn’t work. It was terrible then. I realised that I came to Ogun State to invoke the spirit of freedom for which we are noted for,” Mr Tinubu said.
“I invoked that spirit twice. The spirit of Baba (referring to Awujale). The spirit of Baba – Emi l’okan (it’s my turn), that’s Baba. The spirit for being blunt and that is him. And the second spirit is that of money (naira scarcity), ‘ama dibo ama wole’ (we will vote and we will win) even if there is no money. And that, ever since, has been the spirit that is driving me to serve.”
Mr Tinubu disclosed this at the Palace of Awujale of Ijebu Land, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, when he paid a courtesy visit on Thursday.
