2023 Elections: Vote Any Party Of Your Choice – Presidency Tells Nigerians
…Insists election must hold
By EDITOR
On Friday 18th February, the Presidency said that it is only politicians who are afraid of losing elections that are accusing President Muhammadu Buhari of planning to truncate the democracy and handover to an interim government.
The presidency also warned those selling such information which it said was meant to incite the citizenry against the federal government to desist from it, saying that President Muhammandu Buhari was determined to ensure that elections are conducted and that Nigerians are free to vote for any political party of their choice.
A statement titled, “Stop the joke about interim government, elections will hold,” issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu.
The statement told the doubters, the speculators and the untruth-tellers that the naira swap was not in any way meant to keep the President in office beyond May 29.
It quoted Joseph Goebbels, the propaganda Chief of Adolf Hitler, who had said “Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth”, adding that the quote was made in the 1930s, before the internet was birthed.
The statement reads: “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- a democracy that he has helped to keep alive not only here at home, in West Africa but also throughout the continent.
“The talk of the 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 have 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 precise because the President is concerned about 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.”
Going further, the statement added: “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.
“Elections, just a week ahead, will hold and Nigerians will vote any candidate 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.
“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.”
…vanguard
