Published
on February 18, 2023
Governor Nasir El-rufai’s directive that the old N500 and N1000 notes should remain valid in Kaduna State despite President Muhammadu Buhari’s order has stirred reactions from Nigerians.
Buhari had in a televised address on Thursday directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to extend the validity of old N200 notes till April 10.
He also instructed that all existing old N1,000 and N500 notes will remain redeemable at the CBN and designated points for 60 days.
However, Governor El-rufai who had challenged the policy in court, ordered that the old N500 and N1000 notes remain valid in Kaduna State pending the Supreme Court’s decision.
He also accused the Governor of the Central Bank, Mr Godwin Emefiele, of plans to scuttle the general elections in order to allow an interim government led by a retired army general
Mr Eric Ekwere, the Deputy National Director, Media, Atiku Support Organization, and member of the PDP/Atiku Presidential Campaign Council told DRILLOGIST that El-Rufai and other governors fighting the naira redesign policy are not fighting for vulnerable Nigerians.
Ekwere scolded El-rufai for not acting like a leader, stressing that APC has been in confusion since 2015.
According to him, EL-rufai has failed to tell the public his main reason for fighting the policy.
”It is unfortunate that El-rufai is not acting like a leader. This is a policy that Nigerians have accepted even if we are experiencing hardship. In the long term, it will benefit everybody
”You are complaining that this thing is affecting the vulnerable Nigerians, they have released 200 naira, which is to the advantage of the vulnerable people. These people are not transacting N1000 in bulk and you are still complaining.
”This means that there is something hidden somewhere that you have failed to tell the public. You are inciting the public against the government. He said people in his state should continue transacting with the already expired denomination, isn’t that exposing those people to risk?
”If they keep transacting and later go to the bank and they don’t collect it, is it not the people that you are supposed to protect that will be affected?” He asked.
Ekwere wondered why members of the ruling party resorted to blaming the PDP presidential candidate for the policies of their own government, urging them to carry their cross and leave the PDP out of their crisis.
”I completely disagree with El-Rufai’s position. Atiku is the one enforcing policy from APC? The CBN Governor that is in APC made policy but they are blaming the PDP instead of carrying their cross and thinking of how to win the election,” he noted.
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