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Fuel,cashscarcities:Atiku,Ayu,Tambuwalconspirators,saysGeorge
from Asiwaju
Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Deputy National Chairman Chief Olabode George has blamed presidential candidate Atiku AbubakarandNationalChairman Iyorchia Ayu for their silence on theragingfuelandcashscarcities.
He also expressed surprise over the silence maintained by the Campaign Director-General, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal.
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George said: “In all honesty, I cannot decipher the logic of quietness against the cliff edge thatNigeriahasbeenplunged.
“Our party, the PDP, and others, such as the Labour Party, SDP, NNPP,seemtohaveconcurredto the present shenanigan. I wonder, what hate, what evil, what madness will propel anyone of sane mind to plunge Nigeria into the present state of hopelessness, annihilation and abject suffering ofthecitizenry.”
The PDP elder, who spoke with reporters in Lagos, lamented that “due to this anomaly, which is a deviationfromregulationorwhat isregardedasnormal,thereseems to be a graveyard silence on the partofPDPleadership.
George said: “It puzzles rationality It benumbs our senses asNigerianswakeupeverydayto daily agonies of perennial fuel scarcity,tossedatusbytheNNPC and the agony of non-availability ofcash,occasionedbytheCentral Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through itsNairarebranding.
“Where is the Presidential candidate of our party, the PDP, Atiku Abubakar? Where is Iyorchia Ayu, the National Chairman.Howcomethevoiceof theDG,CampaignCouncilofthe PDP is drowned in perpetual silence, with the presidential electionjustafewdaysaway?
“Why have they allowed their voices to be drowned in conspiratorial silence? Where are the opposition political parties? What does the graveyard silence portendforNigerians?Itseemsto meanthatNigerians'righttogood hasbeenconsignedtothedustbin bythepoliticalclass..”
To the former Ondo military Governor, the Federal Government is overwhelmed, stunned, halted, stalled, and puzzled about grappling with the currentchallenges.
He added:”I believe the various state actors can do better Managersofoureconomyshould not take Nigerians for granted by churning out retrogressive economicpolicies.
“Weshouldratherstrivetoreview ourfocusandourultimatehorizon Nigeria must withdraw from the destructivebrink.”
George lamented that the country has continued to toy with power supply, which is very germane to the development of any developingeconomy
HesaidNigerialosesanestimated $29 billion in accruable revenue everyyearduetoepilepticpower, addingthatitisnotsustainable.
George stressed:”Power is the very lifeblood of all industrial revolution. It is the fuel of all economic development. A nation without efficient power supply cannotriseintothebrightdawnof thedigitalcivilisation.
"IfIgotobanktoaskforcash, don't give me, if you see my cheque,ifyoucan'thonorit,I'll understand.AllI'msayingislet these petty traders get their daily withdrawal limit without this stress They are leaving their daily job to queue at ATMs,thisissad"
“It is stuck forever in the bleak dark side of economic underdevelopment and teeters inevitably on economic ruination.”
On the chaotic cash crunch imbroglio, George said:”The decision of the manager of our financial system, the CBN, to redesign the Naira, has only pushed the country further into direstraits.
“Our national economy has sunk deeper into the abyss, and the peoplearebeingmadetobecome refugeesintheirowncountrywith hungerravagingeveryhome.The policyonthecurrencyshouldnot have been contemplated in the wayitwasimplemented.”
Headded:“Thecitizenryareonly worse for the policy, toiling in vain every day for the nonavailability of the new notes.The tragic comedy of the financial crisisistheinternalexchangerate racketgoingoninallthestates.
“For you to get Naira cash across the counter and from POS operators, there is an 'exchange rate' (charges) depending on the financial smartness of the operators.
“Nigeriansnowpaybetween10% and25%forthemtogettheirhard- earned Naira cash. Nigeria must be the only country in the world where you pay 'officially' a percentage in local currency for youtogetyourmoneyinbanks.”
George said Nigerians cannot be forcedtomoveawayfromacashbased economy to a complete cashless regime overnight, judging by the current archaic state of technology, the internet which is still in its epileptic state and the perennial fuel supply situation , which has also thrown thecountryintoturmoil.
Frowning at the fuel scarcity, he said it is scandalous, adding:”As Africa'slargestcrudeoilproducer, many months of fuel scarcity, especially during the Christmas and New Year festivities, reflects thedysfunctioninNigeria'spublic administrationandtheeconomy.”
The government and its agencies are clueless, making conflicting statements and embarking on uncoordinatedactions.Thisisthe time for Nigerians to open their eyes and minds by voting for a competent and experienced person to take us to the promise land. We cannot afford to make mistakes this time around. Any move short of this is a recipe for completechaos.”
