President Bola Tinubu has said that he was forced to invoke the spirit of freedom in the South West state following the hardship that accompanied the Central Bank of Nigeria cash swap policy during the electioneering period.
Tinubu, who was in Ogun State on Thursday, to meet with traditional rulers in Ijebu-Ode, said that he invoked the spirit of freedom in Ogun State, adding that some of his popular statements during the campaign session that resonated with Nigerians and his supporters were used to invoke the spirit.
I invoked the spirit of freedom in Ogun,” the President said according to PUNCH at the palace of Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, in Ijebu Ode.
He added, “It is a homecoming and I owe so much to all of you and there is so much to thank you for. Because of the way you have taken me and the way you’ve responded to me, all I can say is thank you.
“To many of you, thank you for being there for me and being there for the country. You demonstrated so much loyalty, so much commitment and voted at a very crucial time.
“Your monies were confiscated. The cash swap didn’t work. It was terrible then. I realised that and I came to Ogun State to invoke the spirit of freedom for which we are noted for.
“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.”
SaharaReporters had reported that President Tinubu had recently revealed that the former Governor of the CBN, Godwin Emefiele was arrested because of the economic crime he committed against the Nigerians.
President Tinubu who spoke, during an interactive session with Nigerians residing in France and neighbouring countries, said the financial system was rotten under Emefiele.
He said “Then the financial system was rotten. Few people made bags of money and then you yourself, you stopped sending money home to our poor parents. Several windows. But that is gone now. It’s gone.
“The man is in the hands of the authorities. Something is being done about that. They will sort themselves out.”
SaharaReporters had reported that the suspended Central Bank Governor, Emefiele was arrested by the Nigeria’s secret Police, the Department of State Services (DSS) for alleged economic crimes, sabotage, incitement to violence, stealing of public funds among others.