By G9ija
On Friday, the Presidency issued a statement dismissing rumors of President Muhammadu Buhari’s plans to extend his tenure beyond May 29, 2023, or establish an interim government.
“Let us clearly, specifically, and emphatically state that there is absolutely no truth to the claim that President Muhammadu Buhari is working towards an interim government or even worse, the truncation of democracy,” a statement signed by Buhari’s spokesperson, Garba Shehu, read on Friday.
The statement is titled, ‘Stop the joke about interim government, elections will hold.’
Shehu said, “The President looks forward to handing over the reins of power to his elected successor. This will happen on May 29, 2023, as the Constitution requires.
The Presidency responded to allegations made by some All Progressives Congress governors, who claimed that President Muhammadu Buhari’s insistence on the new naira policy was an attempt to create chaos that would justify the imposition of an interim government.
Recall that the President announced during his 7am broadcast on Thursday that only the old N200 notes will be legal tender for a period of 60 days. He further stated that individuals in possession of N500 and N1000 notes must return them to the Central Bank of Nigeria on or before February 17.
Governors Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State and Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, in separate interviews, alleged that the new naira policy would result in more crises, disrupt the upcoming elections, and facilitate the imposition of an interim government.
They further claimed that the policy was a scheme to damage the reputation of the APC and undermine the presidential bid of its candidate, Bola Tinubu as the policy has already led to sporadic protests and violence in several parts of the country.
However, the Presidency denied the allegations and called the talk of an interim government “way off the mark.”
The recent turn of events has reportedly created pressure on the ruling party, its elected officials, candidates, and law enforcement agencies, according to the Presidency.
The presidency however assured Nigerians that the forthcoming election which is scheduled to hold on 25th of February 2023 will definitely take place as planned.
He went further to assert that the flag bearer of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu remains the President Favoured candidate.