Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The current cash swap policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) with it’s attendant scarcity of naira notes is seriously affecting many politicians and political parties in Enugu State.
Ikengaonline investigation showed that many politicians have been reduced to ordinary citizens as they can longer fullfil their financial promises even with the transfer options.
The same also applied to some big spending political parties in the state, that are said to be slowing down campaign activities due to cash dryness.
Just recently, the ruling party in the state was said to have carried its campaign to Umabor, a community in Nsukka Local Government Area but disappointed the people of the area as there was no cash to dispense, as usual.
Ikengaonline further understands that many politicians are getting increasingly worried that they are not able to secure enough cash for their campaigns, especially now that the election is getting closer.
A member of the ruling PDP who spoke on the condition of anonymity lamented about the situation thus: “Bros, it is no longer funny, everybody is going cash dry, even our party, as it stands now, we may not be able to do what we used to do.
“There is just no cash for anybody to play around with; I wonder how we are going to survive this election. We need cash before the election day at all cost, if not, it’s going to be a disaster,” he said.
Another politician, Chief Mathias Edeh, also decried the situation, saying that the whole thing was gradually becoming tough by the day.
“My brother I need cash, please who can help me. I have money but I have no cash. Honestly, I need cash,” he said.
Edeh said that the cash scarcity was becoming a hindrance.
“I have boys to take care of and all those women of my Ward, how do I handle them, obviously not through transfer.
“If this thing continues this way it’s really going to be a near disaster for some of us and the party as well,” he said.
Even those who are planning to travel for the election are not left out of the complain.
Mrs Josephine Eze, a resident of Enugu city, said she might abort her plan to travel home for the election.
“Honestly, I planned to go home and vote for Obi but I am just calculating the possibility in the absence of cash. How can someone manage in the village,” she said.
Ikengaonline reports that both human and vehicular movements in Enugu metropolis have remained low as scarcity of naira notes continues to bite harder.
