An elated presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Wednesday, expressed satisfaction over the decision of the Supreme Court to halt the implementation of the New Naira policy in the country. Tinubu, in his first reaction to the court ruling, said the Naira redesign and the deadline given by the Central Bank of Nigeria has dealt Nigerians a big blow.
Tinubu hailed the Governors of the 36 states for standing on the side of the Nigerian people over the Central Bank new Naira and cashless policies that have subjected the masses to pains. Three states – Zamfara, Kogi and Kaduna- approached the apex court to demand an immediate halt to the implementation of the Naira policy.
Tinubu, through an immediate reaction by the Director, Media of the presidential campaign council, said the governors have saved the country from what he called “a needless political and economic crises and miseries” which have clearly become the unintended consequences of the monetary policy of the apex bank.
The statement quoted him as saying that the Supreme Court ruling coincided with the advisory of the International Monetary Fund urging for the extension of the deadline for the swap of the old naira notes, going by the problems being experienced across the country in getting the new notes.
“I want to salute the courage of our Governors and most especially the Progressives Governors in APC who acted to save our country from avoidable and dangerous political crises and social unrest which the Central Bank policy on new Naira notes has brought on our country.
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“Our country was dangerously careering toward anarchy and political and economic shutdown. But with the Supreme Court interim ruling our country has been pulled back from the precipice. We thank our Supreme Court Justices for ruling wisely on the side of the people who have been subjected to undue agony and pains since this policy was announced.
“The Federal Government and relevant stakeholders can now sit down and work out better framework on how to proceed with the new policy without causing any social and economic disruption and inconvenience to our people. We have examples of other countries that have successfully and seamlessly changed their currencies to learn from.
“Those countries give a long time, at least 12 months to effect the currency change. They do not engage in CBN-like Fire Brigade approach.
“We have seen how a good policy can be poorly implemented to cause unintended problems for the people who should be the beneficiaries. While lessons have been learnt, we must now move on as a country and people with a Renewed Hope for a better tomorrow.
“The sole aim of my running to be the president of our country is to make life better and more abundant for our people and this is an ideal for which I will remain eternally committed to.”
Asiwaju Tinubu called on the CBN to ensure that the Supreme Court ruling is effectively executed by taking all necessary steps to (i) ensure sufficient availability of Naira notes (whether old or new) and (ii) properly sensitising the public on the ruling and the consequent validity of old Naira.