Tinubu calls for calm over rising petrol scarcity protest, urges NNPC to hasten nationwide supply interventions

Oredola Adeola

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the Presidential candidate of the All-Progressive Party APC, has appealed to Nigerians to remain calm, calling on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to hasten efforts to replicate supply relief being enjoyed in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to another part of the country to end the perennial petrol scarcity in the country.

Tinubu made this known in a statement signed on his behalf by Bayo Onanuga, spokesperson of the APC presidential campaign council, which was released to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday.

Tinubu was reacting in response to flashes of protests recorded in Edo, Ondo, Ibadan, Ogun State, and other parts of the country over ongoing fuel scarcity and cash crunch.

Tinubu in the statement sympathised with the Nigerians especially the downtrodden, who have been made to bear the brunt of the new naira policy by the Central Bank and irregular supply of petrol that have combined to inflict avoidable pains on the masses.

Tinubu commended the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited for the fuel supply relief being enjoyed in the Federal Capital Territory, which led to the disappearance of fuel queues in Abuja and its environs.

 He however charged the national oil company to step up its act to bring relief around the country.

The APC Presidential Candidate called on Nigerians who have been frustrated with the entire situation, to avoid anything capable of causing unrest in the country even when they are justifiably angry.

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 the 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,” he said.

He further noted that the opposition and enemies of democracy, wanted to use the situation 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, assuring Nigerians that there are no challenges that will be difficult for us as a people to surmount when we stand in the 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,”Asiwaju Tinubu said.

This recent reaction is Tinubu’s second major response to the months of perennial fuel scarcity and insufficient distribution of the new Naira Notes across the country, brought about by the redesign of N200, N500, and N1000 old notes by the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN).

Tinubu , who is one of the leading contender in the Presidential contest had recently during his campaign rally in Abeokuta, the Ogun State, blamed some public officials and oppositions for planning to use the fuel scarcity and scarcity of the newly minted Naira Notes  cash crunch and fuel scarcity to prevent him from winning the February, 25,2023, general election.