Waiting for Buhari: Nigerians hold their breath
By PHC Telegraph
Intense attention is shifting to Nigeria where trouble is gradually brewing due largely to differences instigated between the Federal Government and the people by the nation’s policymakers and their collaborators in the Central Bank over the currency swap agenda which has left families gasping for air.
Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of Nigeria’s Central Bank ignores the pronouncement of the Supreme Court. Now Nigerians have their backs to the wall as events on the streets across the country clearly indicates.President Muhammadu Buhari is expected in a few minutes from now, precisely at 7am this moring, to address the nation as the level of tension and public dissatisfaction reach breaking point.
All Radio and Television stations have been directed to hook on to the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, otherwise known as Radio Nigeria for a nationwide broadcast.
What will Buhari say? What shall the direction be given the suffering that Nigerians are facing as a result of the scarcity of the new naira?
Nigerians have been waiting President Muhammadu Buhari who had assured that he will speak on the situation bedeviling them in seven days.
Perhaps, that time has come. News of President Buhari’s intention to address the nation broke late Wednesday night.
It is not clear what the President will say on many burning national issues, particularly the implementation of the naira swap policy, which is igniting sharp reactions.
He is however expected to call for calm in the wake of rising frustration among the Nigerian people which is gradually leading to street protests.
There are expectations that the President will use the opportunity of the nationwide broadcast to rein in the bull in the China shop whose monetary and fiscal policies have left a cross section of Nigerians in pain.
Nigerians believe that Emefiele is working with hidden political interests and an evil cabal operating under cover within the nation’s Presidency to wreck havoc.
Despite the shortage of the new Naira notes and the misery it has brought on Nigerians, the Central Bank has gone ahead to order a cessation of the use of old naira notes inspite of the directive of Supreme Court.
Banks across the country, following the order of Emefiele are no longer receiving or issuing old naira notes.