The CBN Cash Swap Policy And The APC Blame Game -By Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

As I surf through the net for information today, a habit I have acquired over time for relaxation at the end of a hectic day work, what appeared like news story bobbed up on my computer screen. And when I open it, I saw a mischievous news report entitled: How Dino Melaye, Others Smuggled N50 Billion New Notes out Of the CBN. It was something that was alleged to have been done under the surveillance and supervision of a popular director at the apex bank using special purpose vehicle and security from Sokoto, Delta and Adamawa states but which was leaked by the work of a dissatisfied whistle blower who initially was part of the plot. The reporter did not confirm the story nor made any reference to any video evidence or investigation to corroborate or confirm the story.

On a closer look, I discover that the said report was done by an unknown writer and published by an equally unknown and a discredited online outfit called Abuja Network News which is obviously speaking for the All Progressives Congress (APC). Somewhere in the said report the writer contradicted himself by stating that: “As at the time of filling this report, our investigation is yet to confirm if the vehicles and the security details belongs to those state government or not” thereby confirming that the news was false and calculated at smear campaign against the major opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The question that should agitate our minds here is: is it the PDP that is in control of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) or the APC-controlled Federal Government? And the answer is clear and purpose of the fake news is also clear. The APC has failed in all ramifications. The report is part of the APC propaganda targeted at the PDP. It is part of the APC blame game. What they have done in the past eight years is blaming the PDP for their woeful performance. The highest form of irresponsibility and dishonesty comes when you cannot take responsibility for your actions and when you blame others for your failures. It is ridiculous and shame-making!

This was what Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the PDP standard bearer saw very early in the APC regime. And as a man of integrity, when he and others with him noticed that the APC alliance did not mean well for the country, he pulled out of it in 2017. But the insincere and unconscionable political pettifoggers remained in the crumbling political coalition for selfish reasons, praising the APC regime and its catalogue of failures. It is Unfortunate!

The APC regime’s obnoxious policies have affected Nigerians in many negative ways in a manner that is unprecedented in the history of this nation. There is misery and frustration everywhere. There is high level of insecurity as the terrorists and bandits are controlling a huge swathe of Nigerian territory. Inflation rate is galloping to the sky; the national currency is at the all-time low rate of N800 to the dollar, there is mounting national debt burden, high and rising unemployment as over 133 million Nigerians are said to be battling multi-dimensional poverty. There are over 20 million out of school children in Nigeria while there is perennial dispute between the varsity lecturers and the government. The national infrastructure is in a deplorable state, there are chronic shortages of petroleum products while the APC regime is spending trillions of Naira annually on petroleum subsidy. And now their ill-thought-out currency redesign agenda is backfiring on them and they are complaining. Yet, they claim they have done well. Recall that Atiku was one of the most respected Nigerians to appeal to the CBN to extend the date for the cash swap exercise in order to ease out the problems that the exercise has foisted on Nigerians.

Since the cash swap exercise began, members of the APC who should see to the success of the program, being the program of their government, are the ones who have been complaining. Now having failed the APC members are grumbling and bickering. It is interesting to learn that the APC now whine and wail. Before now, they refer to those who criticize their ineptitude as wailers but now it appears that they are the real wailers. There have been accusation and counter accusations. When they are not attacking the President, they are attacking Mr. Godwin Emefiele, the CBN governor or the PDP and its presidential candidate. All these are signs of confusion in the camp of the APC as defeat is staring them menacingly in the face.

No doubt, the belligerent attitude of the members of the APC is the exemplification of their outmoded do-or-die political philosophy, their desperation, entitlement mentality and plans to fight dirty. And from their campaign so far, they don’t tell Nigerians what they will if elected because they have nothing to offer but misery, pain and hardship. During their campaign, they spent time telling their rented crowd about Atiku Abubakar. And when they are not calling him the former governor of Anambra State, they are addressing him as the former Senate President or insinuating something they cannot substantiate.

In an article syndicated and published recently on the subject of the CBN’s currency redesign and cash swap exercise, a colleague of mine Chief Gozie Irogboli aptly predicted that the APC desperation could make them try to sabotage the cash swap exercise in order to have reason to vilify and blackmail Emefiele for the extension of the cash swap deadline to enable the APC members use the billions of the old bank note that they have stashed away for the purpose of voters inducement. He also opined that they have deployed hack writers for the purpose of propaganda and campaign of calumny as the report above indicates.

On that note, I want to use this medium to advise Nigerians to watch out and be steadfast in order not to be fooled or misled by the APC propaganda and smear campaign.

Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

hajiahadizamohammed@gmail.com

An actress, social activist, politician

London, UK