Prior to the February 25 election, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (ret. ), did not favor or disfavor any presidential candidates, according to the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed.
The minister made this at the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting in response to a claim made by Nasir El-Rufai, the governor of Kaduna State, that some individuals in Aso Rock were trying to thwart the success of the ruling All Progressives Congress’s presidential candidate.
According to El-Rufai, there are “elements” in Aso Rock that are trying to prevent Tinubu from becoming president.
El-Rufai revealed that the people in question were displeased that Tinubu beat their candidate in the June 2022 APC presidential primaries during an appearance on the early program Sunrise Daily on Channels Television.
He listed the naira redesign idea as one of many tactics used against Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate, who had previously made a comparable allegation.
“I think there are Villa elements that want us to lose the election because they didn’t get their way; they had their candidate,” El-Rufai said in reference to the election. The primaries were not won by their candidate.
They’re attempting to make us lose the election, and they’re hiding behind the President’s commitment to upholding moral principles. I’ll offer you two examples. First, we all agreed that the fuel subsidy, which is costing the nation trillions of Naira, would be eliminated.
In fact, I explained why it needed to be removed to the President and we talked about it. Because it is impossible to spend N2 trillion on petroleum subsidies while having a capital budget of N200 billion for federal roads. When the subsidy issue began to escalate in 2021, I had this conversation with the President. He was persuaded. We went. It evolved. Governmentwide agreement led to a change.
“This currency makeover is the second example I’ll use. You must comprehend the President. The Central Bank Governor is being held responsible for the redesign of the currency, but No. You must go back and examine Buhari’s inaugural address as president.
“He accomplished this; the Buhari-Idiagbon dictatorship altered our currency covertly in an effort to apprehend individuals hiding illicit monies. It has the best of intentions. It is the President’s right. However, doing so now, within the allowed time, is neither politically nor economically sensible.
In response, the communications minister stated that Buhari was focused on ensuring that Nigerians have free and fair elections and was not favoring or disfavoring any candidate.
“On a more serious note, I can promise you that this administration is committed and determined to deliver a free and fair election, no matter who,” he stated. And I believe that right now, Mr. President is the most crucial figure in this administration and in the world.
“I believe he has demonstrated his commitment to a free, fair, and credible election via both his words and actions. Fair, free, and credible elections also entail no favoritism of any kind.
Mohammed said that Buhari consistently makes it clear that he supports free, fair, and credible elections and that the Presidency is not “formally aware” of anyone in Aso Rock who is trying to prevent Tinubu from becoming president in the poll on February 25.
He continued, “He makes that extremely plain everywhere he goes, even just last Friday when he was in Daura. He made the same statement. We are therefore unaware of any official opposition to any candidate.
