The Presidency, on Friday, dismissed the alleged plot to truncate the 2023 election to enthrone an interim government.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a statement on Friday, said, “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.”
Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State had alleged in an interview with an online news platform that a cabal around President Muhammadu Buhari was planning to scuttle the 2023 General Election.
According to the governor, those hoping to make the system fail, whom he described as non-state actors, were those who failed to pick the ruling All Progressives Congress’ presidential ticket for Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele and Senate President Ahmad Lawan.
However, the Presidency assured that the general election will hold as scheduled as Nigerians desire progress and good government as well as a system that works.
Reiterating President Buhari’s commitment to sustain democracy, Shehu said, “Elections, just a week ahead, will hold and Nigerians will vote for the All Progressives Congress, APC, (and any others if they so wish) on the basis of their choice.
“Our 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.
“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, 2023, as the Constitution requires it.
“The days of unelected Nigerian leaders, and those who outstay their welcome by unconstitutionally extending it, have gone.
“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.”
On the new monetary policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the statement called for calm, saying there is no need for panic as the administration is working at restoring normalcy.
“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.
“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,” it said.
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