The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the 2023 polls, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has reacted to a news report that he asked States Governors to disregard President Muhammadu Buhari.
The report followed the broadcast the President made on Thursday in which he spoke on the country’s cashless policy.
A sizeable number of Governors elected on the platform of the President’s party, All Progressives Congress, disagreed with the position of Buhari, which ran contrary to the ruling of the Supreme Court on the issue, and the entire cashless policy as being implemented by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Tinubu was then said to have told the Governors to disregard Buhari’s position on the issue and abide by the ruling of the Supreme Court that both old and new Naira notes should exist side by side.
Reacting to the development, the Director of Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Onanuga, said in a statement on Friday: “Our attention has been drawn to a fake viral news published by the Peoples Gazette, claiming Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate has asked APC governors to ignore President Muhammadu Buhari’s broadcast and enforce the Supreme Court ruling on the recirculation of old Naira notes.
“The publication by the platform is fake.
“Tinubu never issued such an order. Mr Dele Alake, the APC-PCC Adviser on Media and Communications never issued such advisory on behalf of Asiwaju Tinubu.
“The message quoted by Peoples Gazette was being randomly shared on WhatsApp. Mr Alake was not the author.
“Asiwaju Tinubu has been known, since the currency swap crisis started, to call for calm as the authorities try to find out a solution to the currency crisis. He has offered a six-point suggestion to lessen the anguish our people are facing in trying to get money from the banks.
“He has also held several meetings with President Buhari, his leader over the matter.
“It is thus inconceivable and unthinkable that he would instruct APC governors to disregard President Muhammadu Buhari’s order on the currency matter.
“Governors who have so far declared this line of action said clearly that they were acting on the ruling of the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land.
“Asiwaju has had no influence in this decision.
“Journalists, unless acting on the dictates of political opponents or prosecuting some agenda, should endeavour to confirm authorship of their materials from the Media and Publicity Directorate of the campaign. They can also seek confirmation from the Tinubu Media Office or Mr. Alake .
“The Gazette should recant the story with immediate effect.”
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