By; SULAIMAN AHMED MISAU, Katsina
No truth to the claims that President Muhammadu Buhari is working towards an interim government, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Alhaji Garba Shehu has said.
Alhaji Garba Shehu said in a statement made available to the New Nigerian in Katsina advised the Government critics in the Country to stop making jokes about interim Government.
Alhaji Garba Shehu assured that, elections would hold as schedule and President Muhammadu Buhari has helped to keep Democracy alive not only here at home, in West Africa but throughout the continent.
He said the talk of interim government and truncation of democracy was way off the mark and those who peddle it stand to gain nothing but the creation of panic and incitement of the public against the federal government.
He said ” It is another dangerous dimension by people who are afraid that they may lose their elections and 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.”
Alhaji Garba Shehu disclosed that, “there is indeed a problem and nobody will pretend that it doesn’t exist and 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 President Muhammadu Buhari’s speech, his clear and unequivocal directive that the problem of cash supply
was addressed without delay.
While this was being done, Alhaji Garba Shehu said there is no need to panic.
He emphasized that, “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.”
He reiterated that, the solution to the problem was not in sending Nigerians into confusion.stressing that, “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.”
He said Nigerians want progress, good governance, law and order and would not be swayed by the negative energy that was being expended against a well-meaning currency change.
Finally, to state that, he said President Muhammadu Buhari clearly has a favoured successor in Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, was 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,” Alhaji Garba Shehu disclosed.
He noted that, what should be made crystal clear to the doubters and the speculators and the untruth-tellers was that in no way was the naira swap “engineered” to keep the President in office beyond May 29, 2023.nothing could be further from the truth.
The President, according to Garba Shehu 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,” he added.
Alhaji Garba Shehu noted that, the days of unelected Nigerian leaders, and those who outstay their welcome by unconstitutionally extending it, have gone.
