We are not aware of anyone in the presidency working against APC - FG reacts to El-Rufai's comment

The Federal Government has stated that it has no knowledge of anyone in the presidency working against the victory of the flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, in the February 25 presidential election.

Recall that the governor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-Rufai stated on Wednesday February 1, during an interview on Channels TV, that some elements in the presidency were working against the party's victory in the elections.

El-Rufai said, "I believe there are elements in the Villa that want us to lose the election because they didn't get their way; they had their candidate. Their candidate did not win the primaries.

"They are trying to get us to lose the election, and they are hiding behind the President's desire to do what he thinks is right. I will give two examples: this petroleum subsidy, which is costing the country trillions of Naira, was something that we all agreed would be removed.

"fact, I discussed with the President and showed him why it had to go. Because how can you have a capital budget of N200b for federal roads and then spend N2 Trillion on petroleum subsidy? This was a conversation I had with the President in 2021 when the subsidy thing started rising. He was convinced. We left. It changed. Everyone in the government agreed, and it changed.

"The second example I will give is this currency redesign. You have to understand the President. People are blaming the Governor of the Central Bank for the currency redesign, but No. You have to go back and look at the first outing of Buhari as President. He did this; the Buhari-Idiagbon regime changed our currency and did it in secrecy with a view to catching those that are stashing away illicit funds. It is a very good intention. The President has his right. But doing it at this time within the allotted time does not make any political or economic sense."

Reacting to El-Rufai's claim, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, stated that the government is unofficially aware of anyone working against the victory of the party at the polls.

He added that the Buhari-led government has been fair to all candidates regardless of party affiliations.

He said: "On a more serious note, one thing I can assure you is that, no matter who, this administration is focused and determined to ensure a free and fair election. And I think this administration, and for that matter now, the most important person in this regard is Mr. President. I think he has shown by words and deed that he is committed to a free, fair and credible election. And fair, free and credible elections mean not favouring or disfavouring anybody.

"Everywhere he goes, he makes that very clear, even as recently as Friday, when he was in Daura. He said the same thing. So if there's anybody who's working against any candidate, we don't know officially."

BEB