Nigerians, vote APC or any other party of your choice for the presidency – President Buhari
The Presidency said on Friday that only politicians terrified of losing elections are accusing President Muhammadu Buhari of plotting to end democracy and transfer over power to an interim administration.
The President also warned those disseminating such information, which he claimed was intended to incite citizens against the federal government, to stop, stating that President Buhari was determined to ensure that elections were held and that Nigerians were free to vote for the All Progressives Congress, APC, or any other political party of their choice.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu’s statement.
A statement made by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, headed “Stop the joke about interim government, elections will hold,” also indicated that the APC Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is Buhari’s preferred choice.
The message warned doubters, speculators, and liars that the naira swap was not intended to keep the President in power past May 29.
It referenced Joseph Goebbels, Adolf Hitler’s propaganda chief, who stated, “Repeat a falsehood often enough, and it becomes the truth,” noting that the comment was made in the 1930s, before the internet was invented.
“Let us clearly, specifically, and emphatically state that there is absolutely no truth to the claim that President Muhammadu Buhari is working toward an interim government or, 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 statement read.
“The concept of an interim administration and a curtailment of democracy is just inaccurate. Those that peddle it stands to earn nothing – nothing at all – other than the manufacture of panic and the inciting of popular opposition to the federal government.
“That is another hazardous dimension created by those frightened of losing elections.
“Everyone 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 an issue, and no one will pretend that it does not exist.
“It is specifically because the President is worried about this situation that he opened many doors for dialogue with leaders and groups across the country, culminating in his address to the nation on Thursday morning.
“In keeping with the speech, his clear and unequivocal mandate is that the problem of cash availability must be handled without delay.
President Buhari Speech
“There is no reason to panic while this is being done. We must collaborate as leaders, as a people, and as one nation. People go into overdrive when panic strikes. No one benefits from yelling since no one can hear. The solution to the problem does not lie in confusing Nigerians.
“Elections, only a week ahead, will hold and Nigerians will vote for the All Progressives Congress, APC, (and any others if they so desire) on the basis of their choice.
“Our people desire growth, decent administration, law, and order and will not be misled by the negative energy that is being poured against a well-meaning currency adjustment.
“Finally, it is certain that the President has a preferred successor in Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
“The fact that Tinubu has been opposed to the speed and timing of the Naira exchange schedule does not mean he is against the notion of Nigeria being a paperless society. Of course, Tinubu believes in a cashless society since he is a man of the future.
“What should be made very obvious to the doubters, speculators, and untruth-tellers is that the naira exchange was in no way “planned” to retain the President in power beyond May 29. It could not be further from the truth.
“The President looks forward to passing up authority to his elected successor. This will occur on May 29, 2023, as required by the Constitution. “The days of unelected Nigerian presidents and those who overstay their welcome by unconstitutionally extending it are over.”