…suggests state of emergency
From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Few weeks to the general elections, the presidential candidate of Accord Party (AP) Prof. Christopher Imumolen, has warned of pending unrest and break down of law and order due to frustrations arising from scarcity of Naira notes and fuel across the country.
Prof. Imumolen told journalists at a press conference in Abuja, on Thursday, that the Naira note redesign was a good policy but poorly executed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and those allegedly backing the CBN governor from the presidential villa.
He said: “As a political party that is participating in the coming elections, we are deeply concerned, hence the decision to speak up before the situation deteriorates. Nigeria is faced with two major problems of Naira notes scarcity and fuel crisis, in addition to other socioeconomic and security challenges.
“The situation has fueled speculation that the coming general elections originally fixed for February 25th and March 11th, 2023, might be postponed as unconfirmed report claimed that there are plots to use the uncertainty and rising tension and crisis across the country to frustrate the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and force them to shift the election.
“Evidently, the situation is a calculated attempt by some group of people to ensure that the coming election is probably disrupted so that Nigeria don’t experience smooth transition to another democratically elected president. We strongly asked the government not fall to the plot.”
He, thus, suggested that urgent action be taken by the President, Muhammadu Buhari, and his team to avert eminent breakdown of law and order as witnessed few days ago in some parts of the country. “Unfortunately, the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed and other people that ought to speak up and act are nowhere to be found.”
Prof. Imumolen informed the President that
Nigerians are increasingly being frustrated by the day, and they might be forced to take laws into their hands. “As the presidential candidate of our party, Accord Party, we call on the president to ensure that chaotic scenario are averted by making cash and fuel available for people.
“Any further delay in responding to this could cause unrest and unmanageable unrest. We need to cry out. Some of these new policies seems to be silent war between two gorillas. And Nigerians are the ones are suffering. good policy but poorly executed. Undoubtedly, the Naira redesign is a good policy but badly executed. Any policy that would impose economic hardship on the people must be immediately reversed.”
He, thus, suggested that State of emergency be declared on the economy of Nigeria. This, he said, will enable all machineries of government to be fully activated to tackle the identified challenges and resolve it in the shortest time.
“But until then, we appeal for calm with hope that things would improve in coming days. I also urge Nigerians to queue behind Accord Party so we can, together, make Nigeria great again. We have all the knowledge and experience required to fix this country within the shortest time, and that the reason I am contesting the election,” he said.