The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), was not working against any presidential candidate ahead of the February 25 election.
The minister stated this on Wednesday, after the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting when reacting to a statement by the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, that some elements in Aso Rock were working against the victory of the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
El-Rufai during an interview alleged that some “elements” in Aso Rock were working against Tinubu’s candidacy.
He opined that the persons were aggrieved that Tinubu defeated their candidate in the June 2022 APC presidential primary.
According to El-Rufai, “I believe there are elements in the Villa that want us to lose the election because they didn’t get their way; they had their candidate. Their candidate did not win the primaries.
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“They are trying to get us to lose the election, and they are hiding behind the President’s desire to do what he thinks is right. I will give two examples: this petroleum subsidy, which is costing the country trillions of Naira, was something that we all agreed would be removed. I discussed it with the President and showed him why it had to go. Because how can you have a capital budget of N200b for federal roads and then spend N2 Trillion on petroleum subsidy? This was a conversation I had with the President in 2021 when the subsidy thing started rising. He was convinced. We left. It changed. Everyone in the government agreed, and it changed.
“The second example I will give is this currency redesign. You have to understand the President. People are blaming the Governor of the Central Bank for the currency redesign, but No. You have to go back and look at the first outing of Buhari as President.
“He did this; the Buhari-Idiagbon regime changed our currency and did it in secrecy with a view to catching those that are stashing away illicit funds. It is a very good intention. The President has his right. But doing it at this time within the allotted time does not make any political or economic sense.”
Reacting, Lai Mohammed said Buhari was focused on delivering free and fair elections to Nigerians and not disfavouring or favouring any candidate in the election.
He said, “On a more serious note, one thing I can assure you is that, no matter who, this administration is focused and determined to ensure a free and fair election. And I think this administration, and for that matter now, the most important person in this regard is Mr. President.
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“I think he has shown by words and deed that he is committed to a free, fair and credible election. And fair, free, and credible elections mean not favouring or disfavouring anybody.”
Mohammed continued by saying Buhari makes it clear everywhere he goes that he is committed to a free, fair and credible election, adding that the Presidency is not “officially aware” of anyone working against Tinubu’s candidacy.
He said, “Everywhere he goes, he makes that very clear, even as recently as Friday, when he was in Daura. He said the same thing. So if there’s anybody who’s working against any candidate, we don’t know officially.”
