Letter to President Muhammadu Buhari

Cont. from back page the real intentions of the promoters behind it. Currency has been changed in the country before, for instance, the present N100 note under the Jonathan administration without desperation of the present CBN regime. Who is the CBN governor? An appointee of PDP that was retained by Your Excellency’s commitment to integrity; and, who also was a presidential candidate not long ago and undeniably a partisan. His loyalty is arguably to PDP and the naira redesign is one of their many political tools hiding behind economic policies to sink APC in the coming elections. Otherwise, why the confusion? Why set a date for the mopping of old naira notes which is not possible within three months due to myriads of peculiar local factors. Announcing the date for the expiration of the old notes as legal tender is well in order and his rightful mandate, but insisting that all old notes must be deposited in the manner he goes about it can only elicit one undesirable response which is the wrath of the general public. Thankfully, the CBN governor has reportedly issued another statement allowing the old notes deposit to continue after the deadline; a position the House of Representatives, for instance, has maintained in accordance with Section 20 of the CBN Act which allows for an extension of up to five months. Again, why the hastiness by Mr. CBN Governor? Has he not done adequate consultations and due diligence or could there be something else?

Mr. President, for six good consecutive years, the country was on top of fuel availability because you wanted to keep that record. What suddenly changed? Why has the government suddenly become careless about fuel scarcity across the country and the effects it would have on the chances of the ruling party at the polls?

In 2015, months to the presidential election, the Jonathan presidency geared up its response to the Boko Haram insurgency just to shore up public support and win the then dicy election; why then should the APC Administration that has been doing quite well regarding the availability of the products suddenly stop months to a crucial election? Could this be a case of a party planning to fail or not having in place, plans to win?

With the culmination of these ominous events towards a crucial round of election, are we not providing excuses for the possibility of severe crises across the country that may trigger radical political change? The Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, for instance has reportedly complained that if the fuel crisis persists, it may affect its logistical operations. Now, add the scarcity of the new naira cash which is important to facilitate logistics, especially at the grassroots where cash use is prevalent. Any losing party may decide to trigger crises on the basis of an alleged sabotage due to the policies in question. This may spiral into bothersome uncertainty Mr. President.

If the purpose of the naira redesign is to stop politicians from using cash to influence the general elections, I am afraid it will be difficult to achieve because politicians belong to a class of elite who can always find their ways to achieve their aims. We have seen how dollars was used in the last presidential primaries, what then will stop them to not stack foreign currency to influence the election as an option if local currency in cash is not obtainable? It is the low income earners, the middle class and the underclasses that will be most affected and for the worse by these questionable policies. The likely consequence is that the electorate, largely the undecided and a chunk of the APC support base will vote against APC as a strong response. The opposition will seize every inch of the opportunity to campaign against the ruling party as the election draws near to which it cannot muster any potent response. By then, Your sworn enemies would have a higher chance of coming back to power which, this time, will be to smear all your achievements and APC’s future prospects.

What the earlier mentioned cohort within the ruling party and the corridors of power fail to factor in is what an Atiku Abubakar presidency portends in a post-Buhari era. If there is anything, both PDP and Atiku would not stop at anything to achieve their aims, if they find their way by any chance to the Presidency again; and this will include sustained attacks on your well-earned and well-known reputation, including your integrity and other worthy legacies. They will destroy APC as a party and restate the old order of a single national party. They will use the same cohort, their allies of necessity in question as scapegoats against the ruling party; they will hound all your appointees, they will create the most rehearsed and propagated rhetoric of a corrupt Buhari Administration for as long as they are in power until your name is completely soiled. They will do everything possible to show the world that you ran a corrupt government and they are likely to succeed because they have all the weapons at their disposal, including treacherous insiders. It may not be an Atiku, for instance, that will spearhead the onslaught but a dedicated PDP machine for the mission.

Majority of Nigerians know Your Excellency as a man of integrity and I too have no doubt you will leave no stone unturned to keep it before you exit power. Over the last eight years, you have redefined leadership, selflessness, and set the stage for patriotism in the position of authority. You have carved your name in the annals of history for responsible governance. You fought corruption with a sustained tempo despite corruption fighting back, you reinvigorated the national infrastructural map of the country and you have stood tall above ridicule and stains that marred others before you. That job, Mr. President, you must conclude; you can only enjoy continuation of your good work by ensuring another APC presidency succeeds you.

I am sure Your Excellency will do what is right to ensure the ruling party, APC emerges as a cohesive unit for the coming elections; and will emerge as winner yet again.

Thank you Mr. President.

GOD BLESS THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA!