The perceived face-off between the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Department of State Services (DSS) is aimed at sabotaging the 2023 general elections,an anti-sabotage group,The Natives,has said.
At a joint press conference on Wednesday in Abuja, with other civil society organisations, youths groups, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS),lawyers, among others, the group’s leader, Smart Edwards,implored the citizens to be careful of calculated plots that may not be the reason or hidden interest behind the recent turn of events and ignition of heat in the country by elements of confusion.
He said,all agencies have their modus operandi guiding their operations,adding that the CBN is meant to be independent in developing its policies and so is the DSS empowered with capabilities to interrogate issues of concern.
According to him,the courts are there to be approached in cases of infractions, as he condemned calls for protests against the apex bank governor.
He expressed worry that certain Nigerians are deceived into threats to the CBN, adding that “this is political gymnastics and we are not ready for it.
“The story of Nigeria is not all gloom today, our Air Force is making superior strides in the North-east and forests, the Military and Defence Intelligent forces are recovering lost grounds, peace is gradually returning to Nigeria and people are travelling the roads home for the holidays.
The Kaduna Trains have resumed and working, the East-West Road is almost completed, security situation is improving, the NDDC Board is reconstituted, our Naira is slightly recovering, our elections are around the corner, politicians have come to their seasons, Nigerians must come to their senses.
“Indeed, politicians can be mischievous, I mean the Youths Population are the largest voters in this country, particularly the students, and rather than politicians and political parties reaching out to them with their well-defined manifestos and water tight integrity based assurances of a visionary government and campaigns that should rest on their records, so as to gain their acceptance, they are busy sponsoring chaos.
“Let it be made abundantly clear that as a citizens- led anti-sabotage organisation,we are fully motivated and committed to free and fair elections. We are fully aware of saboteurs in nocturnal meetings, preparing to scandalise and blackmail persons of high reputation as a precursor to sponsor protests across the country, this has already failed because we will resist.
“During the EndSars youths suffered the most, whilst politicians sat in the comfort of their homes either financing and dishing out commands. This is our only country, we will not allow agents of destructions to distribute crisis across the Nation.
“There is no political party,politician or candidate new to us, they have all been around, therefore our country and the country all seek to govern must not explode in the name of their ambitions.
“As citizens, we know that this Nation has reached combustion stage in the past few years, however the security agencies in our country have been faced with challenges on all fronts, we will not allow the relative peace being enjoyed to be truncated, in the roll down to the general elections in February.
“Let all Nigerians be aware, alert and recognise that there is nothing better than the peaceful transfer of power so there will be no room for Saboteurs. The Security Agencies, Defence forces and intelligence community should rise urgently to man our borders and curtail any threats to our National Affairs.
“On the recent debacle between the DSS and the CBN, these are two institutions that will be saddled with our elections therefore we can see fifth columnists and emergency activists mixing up within politicians to rubbish institutions that should be apolitical.
“Bichi is going nowhere and CBN by their mandate are empowered to and can deepen policies that would help grow and stabilize our Naira and Economy.
“The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is an APC man, yet he has given a clear body language readable by all parties including his own, of an unmistakable resolve and determination to ensure free and fair elections.”
