The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC PCC) has said the party’s standard flagbearer, Bola Ahmed Tinubu never asked governors to ignore President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive.
Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari in a broadcast on Thursday declared that old N500 and N1000 naira notes ceased to be legal tender in the country.
On Friday, a report emerged that Tinubu asked governors to ignore the president and continue the use of the old notes.
However, the council, in a statement by its Director, Media, and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga in Abuja on Friday, February 17, 2023, said the viral news published by a media was fake news.
The council demanded that the newspaper should recant the story with immediate effect.
Onanuga maintained that neither the presidential standard bearer nor the APC-PCC Adviser on Media and Communications, Dele Alake issued such an advisory on behalf of Asiwaju Tinubu.
The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to 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 an 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 lead 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.”
The council exonerated Tinubu from the action of the governors, maintaining that the Presidential candidate did not influence any decision taken over the policy
“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 not influenced 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 Alake.
