I believe just like all the other common Nigerians, we are wondering what the Naira change saga was really about. In the heat of an election that has all the makings of an event that will bring a long expected and a well deserved change to that will give Nigerian some degree of peace of mind from the hardship that has been brought to the people by the APC government of Buhari, suddenly out of the blues, without preparing the people for the difficulties that are likely to follow, the government announced the change of the look of the currency Naira. That the people were taken unawares and in no ways prepared for the undeserved hardship that accompanied this unforseen developement in a country where existence was already a grinding experience is to say the least.
What is confusing about this entire Naira change shindig and has let a lot of Nigerians scratching their heads is that the government gave the impression that it was a move calculated to check the likely scenario of politicians using excess looted money to bribe citizens and of course the electoral officers who will be conducting and officiating over the election, yet it turned out in the history of election history of this country that was described as A fantastically corrupt country, no election has beed recorded to be as warped and twisted and totally out of sync with national and global standards like this one. This is because no observers, both foreign or local gave this election a pass mark.
To also say that all hell broke loose at the announcement of this particular exercise that emanated from the Central Bank of Nigeria is quite understatement. However, the befuddding aspect of this outcry is that it emananted from the stables of the ruling party, the APC. Its presidential candidate, BA Tinunbu led the charge and openly accused the government to have initiated the program to sterve him of using his mammoth wealth for election. The others of his ilk, being certain governors of the same party all joined in the hue and cry. This was accompanied with unimaginacle abuses diected towards the president. Their next action was a rush to the apex court of the nation, The Supreme Court dragging the Central Bank of the nation as the culprit. Now another surprising chapter enfolded from the drama. The Supreme Court which obviously have cases that some folks could trace back to four to five years abandoned every thing and attacked this case with gusto. And before the bamboozled Nigerians could say jack …, they had come out with their verdict. The government, should revert to the staus quo. Then, another step is that Mr BAT, went to visit the president. After this, the president comes out to say that part and not all the money should be changed. The 500 and 1000 notes of the nations currency should go on and undergo the stipulated chage.
In this the midst of this confusion and associated hardship imposed upon the people by the government the sham of an election happened. Before the battered Nigerian could figure out what was going on, a president elect was annouced by the electioneering body, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC announced a presidential elect. It was the stuttering, hand shaking, feet shaking old and sick candidate of the ruling party, who can not tell the world his true origin, his age, and the source of the sinful hrde that is his wealth. A man who can not produce any of his academic credentials, and has a drug related record in America. Nigeria went into a shock.
This money change saga dragged on to the pain and terrible suffering of Nigerians, until this morning when it floated on the air waves that the Naira siege on Nigerians has been lifted. The Central Bank capitulated and told Nigerians that the old and new currencies will run concurrently till the last day of the year.
Who is fooling who?
Nigerians could be complacent,tolerant and even compromising, but no one, but no one would call Nigerians fools.
We all know that Buhari is deeply complicit in this crime against the people of Nigeriat We all know that this election had been packaged and keept aside looong before the election was announced. We all know that the INEC Mamoud Yakubu was already recruited and initiated into the rigging cartel looong before the whole election shenanigans commenced. We all know that the entire Naira change shindig was open abracadabra, concorted to distract the Nigerians so as not to focus on the election process while they perpetuate their rigging operations.
Like I said. No one is fooled. Nigerians have expressed their hearts, and no one, I say, no one can denied them of that which they have achieved by this election.
Related News
The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, last night directed all banks to obey the Supreme Court order on the old N200, N500 and N1000 notes.
The apex bank in a statement by the Ag Director of Communications, Isa AbdulMumin, said: ”In compliance with the established tradition of obedience to court orders and sustenance of the Rule of Law Principle that characterized the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, and by extension, the operations of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, as a regulator, Deposit Money Banks operating in Nigeria have been directed to comply with the Supreme Court ruling of March 3, 2023.
”Accordingly, the CBN met with the Bankers’ Committee and has directed that the old N200, N500 and N1000 banknotes remain legal tender alongside the redesigned banknotes till December 31, 2023. Consequently, all concerned are directed to conform accordingly.
The CBN’s directive came shortly after the Presidency yesterday said President Muhammadu Buhari did not instruct or direct the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele to disobey the Supreme Court order on the naira swap deadline.
It also said the CBN had no reason not to comply with court orders on the excuse of waiting for directives from the President.
A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, last night, stated that President Buhari had never interfered in the activities of the judiciary and had no reason to do that now he had a few months to exit from office.
The statement said: “The Presidency wishes to react to some public concerns that President Muhammadu Buhari did not react to the Supreme Court judgement on the issue of the N500 and N1,000 old currency notes, and states here plainly and clearly that at no time did he instruct the Attorney General and the CBN governor to disobey any court orders involving the government and other parties.
“Since the President was sworn into office in 2015, he has never directed anybody to defy court orders, in the strong belief that we can’t practise democracy without the rule of law and the commitment of his administration to this principle has not changed.
“Following the ongoing intense debate about the compliance concerning the legality of the old currency notes, the Presidency therefore wishes to state clearly that President Buhari has not done anything knowingly and deliberately to interfere with or obstruct the administration of justice.
“The President is not a micromanager and will not, therefore, stop the Attorney General and the CBN Governor from performing the details of their duties in accordance with the law. In any case. it is debatable at this time if there is proof of willful denial by the two of them on the orders of the apex court.
“The directive of the President, following the meeting of the Council of State. is that the Bank must make available for circulation all the money that is needed and nothing has happened to change the position.
“It is an established fact that the President is an absolute respecter of judicial process and the authority of the courts.
“He has done nothing in the last eight or so years to act in any way to obstruct the administration of justice, cause lack of confidence in the administration of justice, or otherwise interfere or corrupt the courts and there is no reason whatsoever that he should do so now when he is getting ready to leave office.
“The negative campaign and personalised attacks against the President by the opposition and all manner of commentators is unfair and unjust, as no court order at any level has been issued or directed at him.
“As for the cashless system the CBN is determined to put in place, it is a known fact that many of the country’s citizens who bear the brunt of the sufferings, surprisingly support the policy as they believe that the action would cut corruption, fight terrorism, build an environment of honesty and reinforce the incorruptible leadership of the President.
“It is, therefore, wide off the mark to blame the President for the current controversy over the cash scarcity, despite the Supreme Court judgement. The CBN has no reason not to comply with court orders on the excuse of waiting for directives from the President.
“President Buhari has also rejected the impression that he lacks compassion, saying that “no government in our recent history has introduced policies to help economically marginalised and vulnerable groups like the present administration.”
