Shun APC’s antics over currency swap, group tells Nigerians

The Neo Africana Centre, a public policy think tank has expressed concern over the tension in the country caused by the recent currency swap that has led to the ongoing cash crunch that Nigerians are experiencing.

In a statement issued by its Director of Public Affairs, Jenkins Udu, the centre called on Nigerians not to be deceived by the antics of those who have masked their real motives while pretending to have the interest of the people at heart.

According to NAC, the plot by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to deploy cash for vote-buying, a plan which has been frustrated by the currency swap, is responsible for the ongoing crisis of confidence over the real intentions of government on the policy. The centre stated that those resisting the naira swap policy are individuals and institutions that have stockpiled naira notes for purposes that will not serve the interest of the public. The group noted that it is curious that it is only the APC, among the leading political parties, that is raising eyebrows on the matter.

Udu said: “We are fully aware of the antics of some bigwigs, particularly the APC political family, over the currency swap policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria. A monetary policy that aims at sanitizing the financial sector of our economy is being made to look like a punitive action directed at the well-being and living conditions of Nigerians.

 “The naysayers have stopped at nothing to arm-twist the government with the aim of getting it to back out of the well intentioned policy. Some have even resorted to litigation as a way of forcing the hands of government. We find this distasteful and unacceptable”, the statement said.

The group said that it is their patriotic duty to alert Nigerians to the real intentions of those resisting the currency swap. 

“Nigerians should therefore shun them like a plague as their actions are purely self-serving. We urge the people not to be deceived by the claim that the court action instituted by some APC governors led by Mallam Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State is in the interest of Nigerians. Rather, it serves the selfish interest of the APC and its presidential candidate.”