APC NWC, Govs Ask CBN Gov, AGF To Respect S/Court Order
State governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday rose from a meeting with national chairman of the party, Abdullahi Adamu, insisting that President Muhammadu Buhari must comply with the order of the Supreme Court suspending the deadline for the naira swap policy.
They also asked the attorney general of the federation (AGF) and minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele to obey the order of the highest court in the land.
Presidential candidate of the governing party, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, also joined Adamu and the governors at the meeting which lasted for about five hours at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
The apex court had granted the order of interim injunction suspending CBN’s February 10 deadline for the new N200, N500, and N1,000 notes to replace the old ones as legal tender.
But the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, maintained his ground on the deadline.
Backing the CBN, President Buhari last Thursday in a live broadcast announced that that only the old N200 notes will circulate with other new denominations for only 60 days.
The president’s decision sparked outrage, with more state governors joining their colleagues as plaintiffs in the suit filed before the Supreme Court challenging the CBN’s Naira policy, even as one ministers, Festus Keyamo (SAN), kicking against the decision.
The APC governors yesterday got the backing of the their party leadership against their party leader Buhari, just as they all insisted vehemently that the order of the apex court order must be obeyed.
The governors who attended the meeting with Adamu and Tinubu are governors of Kaduna, Nasir El-Rufai; Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa); Bello Matawalle (Zamfara); Simon Lalong (Plateau); Mai Mala Buni (Yobe); Yayaya Bello (Kogi); Mohammed Bello (Niger); Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe); Biodun Oyebanjo (Ekiti); Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa); Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos); Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), and the deputy governors of Imo State, Placid Njoku, and Mohammed Manir Yakubu of Katsina State.
Speaking with journalists immediately after the meeting, national chairman of the party said it was agreed among the governors that the Naira swap policy and its implementation have caused untold hardship for Nigerians and great difficulty to the nation’s economy.
He said, I’m sure you are quite aware of the fact that a meeting comprising APC governors was held today and the leadership of the NWC of our great party was summoned this afternoon. 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 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.”
Adamu further noted that the APC and its leadership were on the same page with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).
On his part, chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) and Kebbi State governor, Atiku Bagudu, corroborated Adamu’s position that the governors and the party were on the same page.
He said, “Once the chairman has spoken, the governors and the party are one and the same. And I am very proud about the conduct of our campaign by our presidential candidate.
“Director general of the campaign and, indeed, governors and the candidates across the country have been doing a tremendous job of mobilizing the Nigerian populace and we are very, very impressed with the support of the majority of Nigeria.”
Earlier in his opening speech at the meeting with the APC governors, Adamu said recent developments necessitated the need for the invitation he extended to the APC governors.
According to the national chairman, the essence of the meeting was not to sit in judgment against anyone with regards to the happenings in the country, even as it affects the ruling party.
He stated: “I am happy with the response so far and it is my understanding that more of our members are still on their way coming. You would recall the recent developments that have necessitated the need for this invitation.
“We do not want to sit in judgment or anybody in regard to where we are today in the country as it affects our great party.
“I thought the best thing to do is to get all those who are holding forth in their respective positions and who were elected on the platform of the party to get together and have some interaction so that we can have a better or a better understanding of what situation we are in.
“That is the essence of this invitation. And it is my pleasure to welcome you most sincerely to this interaction.”
PMB In A Video, Vows To End Current Hardship
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday sent a message home from Addis Ababa, saying he is fully aware of hardship some policies of government, “which are meant to bring overall improvement to the country” have caused.
He appealed to Nigerians for further patience, as the government takes appropriate measures to ease them.
In a video recording to shore up support for Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate, in next Saturday’s elections, the president who thanked Nigerians for electing him to be president for two terms urged them to vote for the APC flag bearer because “he is reliable and I know he will build on our achievements.”
In the campaign message to voters, Buhari specifically put a call on “traditional rulers, religious leaders and parents to warn their followers and wards alike, to not allow themselves to be used by a few to foment trouble.”
A statement by presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, quoted the president as saying: “I want to assure you that the Government has taken adequate security measures to allow everyone to come out and cast their votes. I am therefore appealing to everyone to give them the necessary support.
“Fellow Nigerians, I want to use this opportunity to once again thank you for electing me to be your President on two occasions.
“I am not a contestant in this election, but my party, the All Progressives Congress, has a candidate in the person of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. As I mentioned before, Tinubu is a true believer in Nigeria, who loves the people and the development of our country.
“I am calling on all of you to vote for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He is reliable and I trust he will build on our achievements.
“Finally, I want to once again assure you that I am fully aware of the current hardship you are facing as a result of some policies of the government which are meant to bring overall improvement to the country.
“I am appealing to you to exercise further patience as we take appropriate measures to ease these hardships. God willing, there will be light at the end of the tunnel.”
Buhari emphasised that the APC presidential candidate has demonstrated his commitment to the development of the country and the well-being of its people.