President Bola Tinubu has reflected on how he had to invoke the spirit of freedom and determination in Ogun State when faced with some challenges before the February 25, 2023 presidential election.
The President spoke on Thursday in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, when he paid a visit to the palaces of the paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona; and the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, in Abeokuta, the state capital.
Tinubu said he remained hopeful and optimistic about achieving victory in the last presidential election despite the ineffective cashless policy implemented by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Tinubu recounted his concerns about the confiscation of funds and the failure of the cashless policy, and how he had previously sought wisdom and guidance from Oba Adetona during his visit to the palace.
According to the President, he invoked the spirits of freedom and determination, symbolised by “Emi lokan” to overcome the obstacles in the election.
“Our monies were confiscated. The cashless policy didn’t work, it was terrible then. I realised that, I came to Ogun State to invoke the spirit of freedom which we are noted for.
“I invoked that spirit twice. The spirit of Baba Emilokan. That’s Baba. Being blunt, being decisive, that’s him, he will tell you. The second spirit is that money or no money (we will do the election and we will win),” he said.
Tinubu’s road to victory in the February 25 elections was paved with thorns starting from his choice of another Muslim and former governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, sparking outrage and drawing harsh criticisms.
Questions around his health were also prominent throughout the campaign and unfounded allegations of crime and corruption fueled by his detractors.
Then just at the cusp of the election came the prolonged fuel scarcity and the Naira redesign policy of the apex bank which led to scarcity of the currency and hardship for Nigerians in the final months of the campaign.
Tinubu, however, surmounted all of these challenges to emerge president of the country and his party, the ruling party.