…Describes el-Rufai’s comments on old naira notes as near treason
From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Labour Party’s (LP) vice-presidential candidate Datti Baba-Ahmed on Friday, appealed to Nigerians not to allow scarcity of new naira notes to deter them from voting in the forth coming election.
In order to break the cycle of difficulties and suffering in the nation, Datti, who addressed Journalists at a press conference in Abuja, urged Nigerians to vote despite all odds.
He told Nigerians to hold him and his principle, Mr Peter Obi accountable if they weren’t successful in transforming the country’s economy from consumption based to production based.
The LP Vice-Presidential candidate also described Nasir el- Rufai’s remarks on the validity of old naira notes as “close to treason.”
Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, had said that the old N500 and N1000 notes will remain valid in the state pending the supreme court’s decision.
This was after President Muhammadu Buhari, announced that he had directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to extend the validity of old N200 notes till April 10 and that the N500 and N1000 old notes should be deposited at CBN approved locations in the next 60 days.
He further noted that the states who are at the forefront of the fight against the naira redesign policy were those that contributed the highest number of votes to Buhari’s victory in the 2019 elections.
“Hold us responsible, if we fail to cut waste in government or drastically fight corruption which has permeated every segment and sector of our national life.
“We make these promises because of what we are offering Nigerians, leadership with character, competence, knowledge and compassion.
“Next Saturday, Nigerians will be expected to make the most important decision in the history of the country, a decision that will determine and shape the future of Nigeria.
“The past eight years have witnessed the most lamentable failures in terms of promises made for change.
“Even if you are angry with the country and the leadership because of the sufferings you are going through, take your anger to the polls and vote out those who have impoverished you through bad governance, “he said.
On the El-Rufai’s comments, he said: “Why would you as the commander-in-chief give an executive order and it is clearly constitutional and a state governor would say you should continue exchanging those currencies,” Baba-Ahmed said.
“This is to say there are two authorities. Why President Buhari is silent about this is best known to him.
“Immunity does not mean that the offense has not been committed.
“These are the states (kicking against the naira swap policy) that contributed about the largest votes for Buhari – Kano, Kaduna – but these are states in the forefront of fighting Buhari’s government because of currency.
“These are state governments who have not fought over failure to secure Nigerians. Their states have become so insecure.
“They didn’t challenge Buhari when the naira fell from N200 to N750.
“It is with this drama in the election that they are challenging him to the extent of giving counter orders… You know, treason. It is close to treason, lawyers will tell you that better.”
Baba-Ahmed also described the federal government’s non-compliance with the order of the supreme court to allow the continuation of the old naira notes as “classic, poor, quality leadership”.
It was very strange that the attorney-general of the federation allowed Mr President to proceed with yesterday’s national broadcast,” he said.
“It was unfortunate. The least I know is that when a competent court of jurisdiction, for that matter, the supreme court is addressing an issue, all parties stay action.
“However, I have submitted in the second paragraph that we are more than bewildered by the poor quality of leadership in Nigeria. That is the only way I can explain this phenomenon.
“The supreme court has adjourned ruling and a commander-in-chief goes and takes another action. This is classic, poor, quality leadership.”