The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to comply with the Supreme Court’s injunction aimed at easing the prevailing cash crunch in the polity, headlinenews.news report.
The Supreme Court had temporarily restrained the Federal Government from banning the use of the old naira notes from February 10.
It gave the order while ruling on an ex-parte application filed by the governments of Kaduna, Kogi, and Zamfara.
Rather than obey the court injunction, Buhari made a nationwide broadcast directing the CBN to make available the old N200 notes for the next 60 days, which elapses on April 10, 2023.
But the Governors of the party who had openly expressed their disappointment against the policy kicked against the directive by the President.
It was based on this that Adamu summoned the governors of the party to an emergency meeting on Sunday, February 19, 2023.
Reading the resolution of the meeting, Adamu said the naira redesign policy was hurting Nigerians and the country’s economy and called on Buhari to intervene.
He said: “I’m sure you are quite aware of the fact that a meeting comprising of APC governors was held today and the leadership of the NWC of our great party was summoned for this afternoon and we had discussion.
“And at the end of the discussion, we have resolved as follows and this resolution is without prejudice or whatsoever to the case that is lying at the Supreme Court at this point in time. This has to do with the issue of currency redesign.
“We note very seriously that the programme and its implementation is causing tremendous difficulties to the people of Nigeria and to the national economy.
“That we urge the Attorney General of the Federation, (Abubakar Malami) and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria to respect the supreme court order of Interim injunction which is still subsisting
“That the meeting is urging his Excellency, Mr President to intervene in resolving issues that are causing this great difficulties to the economy.”
Asked if the governors and the party are now on the same page, Adamu answered in affirmative, saying the governors forum, and the NWC of the party are on the same page.
The meeting had in attendance Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna state, Mohammed Bello (Niger), Abdulahi sule (Nasarwa), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Bello Matawalle (Zamfara) Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Simon Lalong (Plateau) Deputy governor of Imo state, Placid Njoku, and Mohammed Yakubu, Deputy Governor of Katsina State.
The National Patriots also in a communique appealed to President Buhari, CBN Governor and the Minister for Justice to respect the rule of law as is expected from any government and rescind their controversial directives in consonance with the Supreme Court Order for the sake of Nigerians. The National Patriots stated that a democratic government is expected to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people and should reflect the will of the people as articulated in the Constitution.
The National Coordinator Dr. Hameeda explained that any progressive government is expected to have a humane face and the hardship being experienced by Nigerians presently should move even the hardest heart to empathy. Words cannot express the traumatic situation in every Nigerian home where cash is unavailable for basic needs. Lives have been lost with elderly people standing in queues at ATM machines for endless hours. Mr. President should kindly utilise his executive fiat to restore normalcy to our lives before more people suffer untimely death. We hope the President shall respond to the appeal by everyone and suspend the policy for now, in this way, Nigerians shall accept a renewed hope for Nigeria easily with the APC progressive government.
The World Bank, IMF other financial institutions have also appealed to the Nigerian Government to place this Naira Project on hold till there is enough new Naira to ensure a hitch free swap as is done anywhere in the world.
We therefore appeal to President Buhari, CBN Governor, Minister of Justice to address the situation immediately by putting the project on hold till there is sufficient new Naira notes printed.
President Buhari in his message sent from Addis Ababa yesterday asked Nigerians to vote for Tinubu and vote for the APC, he needs to encourage Nigerians to embrace his nomination by making the country and environment conducive to peaceful elections and proving to the electorate that the APC government has a humane face. This is the only way to obtain the peoples support for APC.
President Buhari ought to be concerned with leaving a good legacy for Nigerians in this period, so we plead with him on behalf of the masses to empathise with them and rescind his directives on this Naira redesign Project till its practically feasible.
We thank the President in advance for his consideration of our humble request to a listening President.
Dr. Hameeda
National Coordinator
The National Patriots.
