Fuel/Naira Scarcity: APC Shelves Tinubu’s Rally As Ibadan Boils

BY VICTOR BUORO – Concerned over likely security breaches, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has postponed its Presidential campaign rally in Oyo State earlier slated for Tuesday, February 06 at Mapo Hall, Ibadan.

Confirming the development, the Publicity Secretary of Oyo State chapter of APC, Olawale Sadare, said the decision was taken by the Governor Simon Lalong-led Presidential Campaign Council “in view of the mood of the nation”.

Sadare said in a statement thus; “We regret to announce the indefinite postponement of our presidential rally earlier slated for tomorrow (Tuesday). The decision was taken, apparently, in consideration to the prevailing challenges facing the people and the need to allow President Muhammadu Buhari work around the situation and ensure that normalcy return particularly as it concerns fuel and currency notes crisis.

“At Oyo APC, we were convinced that it was unnecessary to go ahead with (the) event in order not to play into the hands of some anti-democratic forces who do not want the nation’s general election to go on as scheduled because they feel the outcome of the poll, this time, would produce a new order capable of returning Nigeria to Nigerians.

“Although, a new date is yet to be announced, I can assure the general public that Oyo state will host Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in no time and it is going to be a huge success.

“However, we appeal for calm among the citizenry as we must not lose focus on doing all that is necessary to ensure the fruition of the dream to have Tinubu as the next president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Ibadan, the Oyo State capital has reportedly been rocked by a series of protests over the new Naira notes and fuel scarcity currently hitting the country.

According to party insiders, preparations were already in top gear for Ibadan to host the Tinubu/Shettima state-wide presidential campaign rally before the sudden postponement of the event.

The rally date, initially fixed for January 9 was later changed to February 7, 2023 due to what APC sources described as logistics issues arising from the hectic schedule of the Party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Senator Kassim Shettima