President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, said that he invoked the spirit of freedom during his electioneering in Ogun State.
He said that during the campaign season, some of his popular statements that resonated with Nigerians and his supporters were used to invoke the spirit.
The former Lagos State governor said the hardship that accompanied the cash swap policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria during the electioneering period forced him to invoke the spirit of freedom in the South West state.
“I invoked the spirit of freedom in Ogun”, the President said 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”.
On 3rd June, President Tinubu set the social media on fire when he vented his frustration during a presidential campaign in Abeokuta, saying it was through his efforts that the then President Muhammadu Buhari won the presidential election after failing thrice.
It was during the event that he blurted out his now famous quote, emilokan (it’s my turn) famous statement.
“It is my time. I’m educated. I’m experienced. I have been serving people for a long time. Bring me the presidency, it is my turn”, President Tinubu had insisted.
He also pointed at host Governor Dapo Abiodun whom he described as eleyi (this one) as one of the products of his political hard work.
“Look at this one (eleyi) seated behind me, Dapo, he wouldn’t have become governor without my support”, the then candidate Tinubu while addressing delegates of the All Progressives Congress in Ogun State.
His outburst evoked mixed feelings, with many loyalists of the party including the National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, saying the remarks were meant to slight the the President and Ogun State governor.
Also, in reaction to the new naira scarcity and fuel shortage which provoked riots across the country, candidate Tinubu accused unnamed powerful persons of masterminding the crisis to shoot down his aspirations. His ally, the then Governor Nasir El-Rufai affirmed that some Presidency officials, including the Central Bank Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele were working against the APC presidential candidate.
