By Ismaila Chafe
Presidency says there is no truth to the claim that President Muhammadu Buhari is working towards an interim government or the truncation of democracy, saying elections will hold as scheduled.
A statement by Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s spokesman on Friday in Abuja, said the president would never be a party to the truncation of democracy that he had helped to keep alive not only here at home, in West Africa but throughout the continent.
According to him, talk of interim government and truncation of democracy is way off the mark and those peddling it stand to gain nothing- ”nothing at all -but the creation of panic and the incitement of the public against the federal government.”
The statement read in part: ”Joseph Goebbels, the propaganda Chief of Adolf Hitler said ‘‘Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth’’. This was in the 1930s, before the internet was birthed.
”Let us clearly, specifically and emphatically state that there is absolutely no truth to the claim that President Muhammadu Buhari is working towards an interim government or even worse, the truncation of democracy- democracy that he has helped to keep alive not only here at home, in West Africa but throughout the continent.
”The talk of interim government and truncation of democracy is way off the mark. Those who peddle it stand to gain nothing- nothing at all -but the creation of panic and the incitement of the public against the federal government.
”It is another dangerous dimension by people who are afraid that they may lose their elections.
”Everybody is aware that there is a lot of pressure on everyone-all of us- the party, its elected officials, its candidates and law enforcement agencies following the way the currency swap has gone but the way to go is not to panic.”
The presidential aide acknowledged that the country was facing socio-economic challenges occasioned by the ongoing currency swap policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
He, however, maintained that the solution to the problem was not sending the citizens into confusion as the president had since opened several avenues for consultation with leaders and groups across the country.
”There is indeed a problem and nobody will pretend that it doesn’t exist.
”It is precisely because the President is concerned with this problem that he opened several avenues for consultation with leaders and groups across the country, culminating in his broadcast to the nation on Thursday morning.
”In line with the speech, his clear and unequivocal directive is that the problem of cash supply must be addressed without delay.
”While this is being done, there is no need to panic. We need to work together as leaders; as a people and as one nation. When panic hits, people go into overdrive. Shouting helps no one because no one can listen.
”The solution to the problem is not in sending Nigerians into confusion.”
He said elections, just a week ahead, would hold and Nigerians will vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC), and any others if they so wish, on the basis of their choice.
According to him, people want progress, good governance, law and order and will not be swayed by the negative energy that is being expended against a well-meaning currency change.
Shehu also dismissed the assertion in some quarters that the CBN currency swap policy was targeted at the APC presidential candidate, Sen. Bola Tinubu.
He said: ”Finally, to state that: the President clearly has a favoured successor in Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is not in doubt.
”The fact that Tinubu has been opposed to the speed and timing of the Naira swap timetable does not mean he is against the idea of Nigeria becoming a cashless society.
”Of course, Tinubu does support a cashless society: for he is a man of the future.
”What should be made crystal clear to the doubters and the speculators and the untruth-tellers is that in no way was the naira swap “engineered” to keep the President in office beyond May 29. Nothing could be further from the truth.
”The President looks forward to handing over the reins of power to his elected successor. This will happen on May 29 as the Constitution requires it.
”The days of unelected Nigerian leaders, and those who outstay their welcome by unconstitutionally extending it, have gone.” (NAN)
