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From Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi
The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, (ALGON), Benue state chapter, has described the policy on redesigning of the naira notes by President Muhammadu Buhari as draconian.
The State ALGON Chairman, Dr Mike Uba, stated this on Wednesday, while briefing newsmen on “the actions of President Muhammadu Buhari against the decisions of the Supreme Court on the naira redesign.”
Uba said the policy was a deliberate attempt by President Muhammadu Buhari to add more misery to the lives of Nigerians. He said
ALGON in Benue is not happy that the All Progressives Congress, (APC), led administration, has has refused to accept the decision of the Supreme Court.
Ubah who pointed out that all the President need to do was to call on the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN) to put in place measures to alleviate the sufferings faced by the people but expressed shock that he has remained adamant.
He said “We are therefore deeply saddened by the draconian economic hardship deliberately imposed on Nigerians by the APC led administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“While we cannot fault the decision of government to change her currencies, we feel constrained how the Buhari administration has failed to consider the pains occasioned by this singular act which has left majority of our people impoverished and has turned our economy into a mess, leaving the people at the mercies of shylock money changers.
“The onus to call the Central Bank to order and end this needless suffering inflicted on Nigerians by the implementation of the agency lies squarely on the shoulders of President Buhari.
“Instead of the President to step in and eliminate these sufferings, it is glaring to us that President Buhari has willingly chosen to add more misery to the populace, especially the poor and the vulnerable that he swore to protect.”
The ALGON boss who stated that there was worsening state of insecurity, occasioned by the rising cost of foodstuff, noted that the unavailability of fuel and increasing queues at the nation’s gas stations has become a thing of concern.
“Nigerians were therefore happy when some State Governors approached the Supreme Court to step in and save the country from imminent crises. Nigerians were anticipating that the apex court would make a definite pronouncement to address the federal eoveimment’s refusal to comply with its earlier order suspending the February 10, 2023 deadline.
“While the court processes were still going on, President Buhari by executive fiat issued a contrary directive thereby further compounding the misery of the populace.
“We find this as a great abnormalities under a democratic dispensation for an elected president to ignore the ruling of the Courts, and especially the Supreme Court.
“This is a disrespect on the judiciary seen as the last hope of the common man taken too far. And we condemn this in its entirety.
“As leaders of the third tier of government that has direct contact with the people, we urge Mr President to direct the Central Bank of Nigeria to correct these abnormalities brought upon the people to save our democracy, The President should not be seen as one who is leading in disrespecting our law courts”, he stressed
