The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesome Wike has described the decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) led by Godwin Emefiele to disobey the apex court order over the naira policy as unacceptable in any part of the world.
Governor Wike said this on Wednesday when the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima visited him at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
While describing the naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as “anti-people”, Wike said it’s unacceptable for the federal government not to comply with the ruling of the supreme court on the matter.
He blamed the APC’s led federal government for the naira scarcity which has resulted in violent protests across the country.
“Do you people really want this election to take place or not? Or do you have an agenda to truncate this election? I don’t know. Look at what (protests) happening in Oyo, Edo, and Delta. See what is going on,” he said.
“I believe your party should make sure this election holds. You people are in power, ensure that this election holds. Nobody can solve the issue of corruption in two, three months. It is not possible. This thing is purely politically motivated.”
“How can you people be in government at this time; governor of a central bank disrespecting the supreme court? Where has it happened in any democracy? Governor of Central Bank thinking of whether to obey supreme court order? Where has it happened?” Wike asked
Recall that the redesign of new naira notes was announced on October 26, 2022 by the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria,Godwin Emefiele.
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According to him,the decision will control the money supply and aid security agencies in tackling illicit financial flows.
Emefiele had said the new notes (N200, N500, and N1000) would be effective from mid-December 2022, advising customers to deposit their old notes before January 31, 2023, when they would cease to be legal tender.
The January 31 deadline sparked controversies as many Nigerians could not access the new naira notes.
On January 29, Emefiele said Buhari had approved the extension of the phase-out to February 10.
On February 8, the supreme court temporarily restrained the federal government from banning the use of the old naira notes from February 10, 2023, pending the hearing of the matter on February 15.
Despite the court’s order, Emefiele insisted on the deadline.
On Wednesday, the apex court adjourned the hearing of the case to Wednesday, February 22, and insisted the old naira notes are still legal tender.
The scarcity of old naira notes sparked violent protests in many parts of the country as banks and automated teller machines (ATMs) were touched.
In the entourage of Tinubu were the APC National Party Chairman Abdullahi Adamu; Governors Abubakar Bagudu (Kebbi), Babjide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), and Dave Umahi (Ebonyi).
Others at the meeting include former governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) and Adams Oshiomhole (Edo) as well as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva; among others.