By Ejeye Jolomi
The purpose of this article is to create awareness to avert evil machinations and mechanisms put in place by unknown enemies of Nigeria to scuttle the upcoming Presidential Elections because the Elections must hold peacefully in a free and fair atmosphere so that Senator Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will emerge victorious at the Presidential polls and the people’s mandate would not be stolen.
As of recent, towards the end of January, 2023, Nigeria’s political climate has been characterized by Civil unrest, Protests in some parts of the country, and viral videos of large crowd of people at banks expressing their anger and displeasure over the CBN’s New Naira Notes Swap Policy.
Discoveries show that a Wema Bank branch in Ibadan, Oyo State, was destroyed and vandalized when a riot broke out, An anonymous Senior Staff at Sterling bank claimed some of the bank’s branches in Lekki area of Lagos State were shut down on the 7th of February, 2023. Some Sterling Bank Managers were also arrested by members of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC). Zenith Bank also closed down their bank branches at Agege, Ikorodu, and Ik
eja area of Lagos State to avert a backlash from customers who are being frustrated by the massive queues and can’t have access to their money.
There was also a clash between the Nigerian Army and students of University of Benin on the 4th of February, 2023, as seen in the viral video.
Protests are gradually building up due to the hardship in the country caused by scarcity of new naira notes.
I am of the opinion that the timing of this CBN New Naira Note Policy is totally wrong and I am sure the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele didn’t explain the negative effect the CBN monetary Policy will have on Nigerians to President Buhari.
The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele has a personal vendetta against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) because he wasn’t allowed to contest the Party’s Presidential Primaries where he allegedly intended to monetize the system and buy his way through during the Presidential Primaries of the All Progressives Congress held in 2022, last year.
Another theory to the current Polity of the country indicates that the Monetary Policy of the CBN is Intended to deliberately cause chaos, panic, and as if negative reactions are being expected from Nigerian Citizens by all means necessary by keeping them frustrated.
The CBN Governor and other enemies of Nigeria, colluding with him, want a situation where there would be political instability and disorder in a way the 2023 Presidential Elections would be scuttled with an alleged secret conspiracy to bring in an Interim Government to restore order and calm after heating up the Polity and we must have survived the Political Crises that can emanate if the upcoming Presidential Elections are tampered with, thus subverting the will of the People.
To back up my claim, it is the same Political card that was played after the june 12, 1993 Elections won by the Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) Presidential Candidate, late M.K.O Abiola was annulled by the Military Administration of General Ibrahim Babangida. The same events like protests, heavy riots ensued at that time prompting the emergence of Ernest Shonekan as the Interim Head of State of Nigeria from 26th August, 1993 to 17th November, 1993.
Interim Governments are temporary, transitional, provisional governments appointed or handpicked by the President. It should be noted that Interregnum is not backed by the 1999 Constitution as amended and is a threat to Nigeria’s Democracy.
The trick with Interim Government is that it is manipulated when an Administration is leaving power during the transition Process.
The Interim Government under Ernest Shonekan didn’t last long in Nigeria and the events which mandated the formation and also the end of Ernest Shonekan’s Tenure as Interim President were disastrous.
After the implementation of that Interim Government Plan, till date the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has remained politically irrelevant.
It would be flagrant disregard and disobedience to the doctrine of Separation of Powers which strengthens Democracy by ensuring Checks and Balances, If the CBN goes ahead with the deadline of the new naira notes because both the highest Court in the Country, the Supreme Court (Judiciary) and the National Assembly (Legislature), have clearly stated their position on the New Naira notes Policy.
The Presidential and National Assembly Elections must hold on February 25th, 2023 as affirmed by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission on Wednesday, 8th February, 2023.
This article is intended to create awareness on why Nigeria’s Democracy must be preserved and avert any plot to truncate our Democracy.
*Comrade Ejeye Jolomi is the Media Director, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) and National Director, Youth Mobilization, Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Support Organization.
