The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, says his background as a son of a market woman made him to appreciate the hardship caused by the ongoing naira swap policy.
Tinubu, who had at different times expressed reservations about the implementation of the policy, said his cries were informed by his experience as someone who grew up in a market environment.
Speaking at a town hall meeting with market leaders from around the country in Abuja on Friday, the APC presidential candidate said he was fed and trained by his late mother with money from trading, adding that he could identify with the pains and gains of traders.
Tinubu said he knew limiting circulation of cash would have devastating impact on the informal economy because of his knowledge of trading in Nigerian markets.
He expressed sympathy with petty traders and those dealing in perishable goods who he said are worst affected by the policy.
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The former governor of Lagos State cited the example of a carrot seller he observed while on a recent campaign trip to Gombe State who was standing under the son tending to his wares with no one to patronize him “because there was no currency”.
The APC presidential candidate urged the traders to remain resolute and not allow difficulties arising from the naira swap exercise to overwhelm them.
Tinubu said his government would provide low interest loans for traders and address their concerns in other areas of their businesses if elected as president in the forthcoming general election.
Assuring them he knows where it pinches them Tinubu said: “This man is from the market and is from the city.”
The representatives of the market leaders who spoke at the event described Tinubu as one of them.
They promised to mobilise for the victory of Tinubu who they said is the best candidate on the ballot.
Others at the event were Governors Muhammad Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa) and Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger); and the Secretary of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, James Faleke; among other chieftains of the party.
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