Category: Lead

The National Population Commission (NPC) in Anambra State has urged the specialised workforce and facilitators participating in the ongoing training for the 2023 Population and Housing Census to exemplify highest moral and ethical conducts towards the success of the exercise.

Federal Commissioner representing the Commission in the state, Chidi Ezeoke who gave the advice on Saturday at the closing and oath taking ceremony, also cautioned against divulging of sensitive information in course of the exercise.

He said, “We’re aware of our problems in 2006, and we know what we’re facing presently. But such won’t stop us from conducting the exercise because of its importance to national planning.

“I urge you to be good ambassadors of yourself and the commission you’re representing. Don’t divulge sensitive information and don’t be rude to respondents but exercise restrain where necessary.”

He appreciated Governor Chukwuma Soludo for his support to the commission, especially in establishing the State Census Committee, just as he called for cooperation on the part of residents to ensure successful conduct of the headcount.

Also speaking, Director, Legal Services in the Commission, Dr. Mrs. Chioma Umeh-Kalu, said the oath taking was to protect and expose participants to certain principles, including secrecy and non- destruction of materials.

Umeh-Kalu, represented by Donald Chiemezie, said emphasis on offenses and penalties was not to instill fear on participants, but for them to be on the same page with the Commission to get the best from them.

Rea Also : Census: 1159 NPC facilitators take secrecy oath

“We’ve had issues in the past where the commission was faced with several litigations after headcount. As a commission backed up by law, we want to avert such as much as possible” he said.

A member of the committee, and State Commissioner of Culture, Tourism and Entertainment, Don Onyenji congratulated the trainees for their decision to be part of the exercise, stressing that, “it’s a privilege to be part of those to make history.”

He regretted underestimation of the state’s population ocasioned by ugly experience during the previous exercise, expressing optimism that such ugly development would be addressed in the forthcoming census.

Earlier during the oath administration, Chief Magistrate in the State Judiciary, Genevieve Osakwe, said she would only append her signature to forms of facilitators bearing their recent passports and signatures.

On his part, State Director, NPC, Dr Joachim Ulasi said 1159 facilitators, including 431 Specialized Workforce took part in the oath-taking ceremony.

He described the training as satisfactory and quality of manpower as unquantifiable, saying, “it’s only in Anambra that when you open the portal, you see lots of PhD holders, Principals, Magistrates, among other senior officers applying as facilitators.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is fully ready to hold this year’s general elections, its Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has said.

Yakubu spoke following the successful conduct of its mock accreditation holding nationwide yesterday.

The mock accreditation exercise is meant to test the effectiveness of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) being deployed for the election nationwide as a replacement for the card reader.

The exercise is taking place in about 436 polling units in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory with two polling units drawn from six local government areas and two Area councils of the FCT.

Read Also : PHOTOS: INEC holds mock accreditation exercise in Lagos

The INEC boss monitored the exercise in two polling units in Abuja Municipal Area Council and Bwari Area council, expressing satisfaction with the conduct of the exercise.

He said reports from across the country indicate a huge success of the exercise, with each voter being accredited under 30 seconds

Details shortly

Lawyers in Imo State will on Monday begin a three-day boycott of courtroom activities to register their anger over the killing of the President of Ejemekwuru Customary Court, Nnaemeka Ugboma, in Oguta Local Government Area of the state.

About five gunmen on Thursday invaded the customary court, dragged the jurist out while he was presiding over a session and shot him dead.

The killing sparked public outcry leading to lawyers in the state calling on the police to arrest and persecute the suspects.

The five branches of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in the state, in a joint statement on Saturday, called for, among others, the provision of security personnel in all courts in the state. 

The statement signed by D. U. Alinnor for Owerri Branch. B. A. Munonye for Orlu Branch. Ambrose Ugbala for Mbaise Branch, E. A. Ochionu for Okigwe Branch and Richard Anyanwu for Mbano/Etiti branch, decried the constant attacks on judicial officers and facilities in the state.

It reads: “The branches of the Nigerian Bar Association in Imo State (Imo Bar) deplores the cold-blooded murder of a judicial officer, His Worship Nnaemeka Ugboma, Esq., who was shot point blank in court by yet-to-be-identified gunmen on the 2nd of February, 2023.

On receipt of the news, the Owerri branch of the Nigerian Bar Association promptly engaged lawyers within the affected jurisdiction as well as staff of the affected court, who confirmed the incident. We also convened an emergency meeting and further contacted the heads of the judiciary particularly the Chief Judge of Imo State and the President of the Customary Court of Appeal Imo State.

“The Commissioner of Police Imo State has also received a request from us for an immediate and thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to the unfortunate incident and to ensure that the culprits are apprehended and made to face the full weight of the law.

“The Imo Bar notes with deep concern that the attacks on judicial institutions have become a disturbing trend in Imo State and has taken an unfortunate turn by the murder of Mr. Ugboma. 

“This dastardly act is highly condemnable as it desecrates the temple of justice and undermines the confidence of the citizens in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.

“The Bar therefore calls on the Imo State Government to  provide, with immediate effect, security in and around all the courts in Imo State, which have remained porous despite the sensitive role they play in the society.

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“The Imo Bar, in consonance with the national body of the NBA, ably led by Y.C. Maikyau, OON, SAN, firmly resists the attempt to undermine the judiciary and the legal profession, and instill fear in the conduct of judicial proceedings. Also, citizens need to be aware that judicial officers and lawyers are not their enemies or opponents, they only aid in the administration of justice.

“In the circumstance, the members of the NBA in Imo State have resolved to boycott all courts in Imo State starting from Monday 6th February 2023 to Wednesday 8th February 2023, in other to register their displeasure with the current state of affairs.

“Until the members of the Bar in Imo State are sufficiently assured of the safety of the judiciary, the Bar and the litigants as requested, we shall continue to review the situation and to take further necessary actions.”

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has suspended all political campaigns in the state and deployed free ‘Omituntun’ transport buses to ease the pains of residents facing the twin crises of naira and fuel scarcity.

Makinde, who announced this in a statewide broadcast on Friday night, pledged his administration’s commitment to alleviating the situation.

He frowned at protesters’ resort to violence in Ibadan earlier on Friday, saying that while citizens are free to express their feelings peacefully, the government would not condone violence.

The governor also put security agencies in the state on high alert to avert any breakdown of law and order. 

He urged the people to ensure they use their Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) to usher in a responsible government in the forthcoming general election, adding that resorting to violence breeds other problems.

He explained that the Omituntun Mass Transit Buses would be deployed to more routes for free, to ameliorate the people’s suffering.  

The governor added that the state was also working with Chairmen of local governments to provide immediate palliatives for the vulnerable to alleviate their hardships. 

He urged residents to go about their lawful activities peacefully.

He said: “My dear good people of Oyo State. I am addressing you today because of the prevailing conditions in our state and country that have led to protests and riots, especially in Ibadan. 

“First, let me say that I understand the need for these protests. When citizens get pushed to the wall, there is only so much that they can take. The continuous fuel scarcity and the scarcity of the naira have led to slow economic activities. I must repeat, I understand, and I feel your pain.

“I have always maintained that peaceful protests are fine. When things are not going how we want them to go, we have a right and even a responsibility to protest. 

Read Also : Makinde suspends campaign activities over fuel, Naira crisis

“Let me also state that while we are protesting, we must remember how easily a peaceful protest can turn violent and lead to the loss of lives and property. 
The violence that erupted in parts of Ibadan today (Friday) is condemnable and will not be tolerated. 

“In response to this, I have suspended all campaign activities forthwith. I have also met with the heads of security agencies in Oyo State to restore calm and maintain peace in our dear state. 

“Violence can not and will not solve our problems, it only creates new ones. We have another opportunity in a few weeks to move this country in a new direction. Use your PVC, not violence. 

“We must not allow elements within us who have other motives to take advantage of peaceful protests to perpetrate evil or push their agendas.

“I urge all law-abiding citizens and residents of the state to go about their lawful activities. All our security agencies are on high alert and so, peaceful residents of the state have no cause to fear.

“As a palliative measure, I have directed that the Omituntun Mass Transit Buses should be deployed to more routes within the state for free. 

“We are also working with Local Government Chairmen to see what immediate palliatives we can make available to the most vulnerable amongst us to alleviate the hardships that the twin scarcity of fuel and the naira have brought upon our people. 

“Once again, we have another opportunity to put an end to oppressive systems and that is through the ballot. For now, I urge everyone to remain calm as we are doing our best to mitigate the hardships.”

Residents of Ibadan, the state capital, took to the streets to protest the lingering petrol and naira notes scarcity in the country.

Protesters started a bonfire near the Oyo State government house before they were dispersed by police officers.

The protest spread to major areas in the ancient city, including Agodi-Secretariat, Iwo road, Idi Ape and Bodija.

The protests had started on a small scale on Monday but took a new dimension on Friday when the youth and traders started burning tyres and barricading roads.

In October 2022,  Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele, announced the plan to redesign the N200, N500, and N1,000 notes, and asked Nigerians to deposit their old notes before January 31, 2023, when they would cease to be legal tender.

Although the deadline has been shifted to February 10, many Nigerians have found it difficult to obtain the new naira notes.

THE All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, yesterday alleged moves by those he called fifth columnists in the corridor of power to foist on the country an interim national government.

He said the plotters hope to achieve their objective by provoking Nigerians through the crisis arising from the naira notes redesign and the current fuel scarcity.

Tinubu told party supporters at a rally in Ado Ekiti that the plotters were working on the theory that the possible unrest sparked by the fuel and naira scarcity would force the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the coming elections and proceed to install an interim national government.

But he urged Nigerians to remain steadfast, and refuse to be provoked to violence by the alleged plot.

He was confident of emerging victorious at the polls

He said the generality of Nigerians had found in him a true leader committed and dedicated to the struggle to bring about the desired change in the governance and make life abundance for the citizenry.

Tinubu said his decision to seek election as president is to help in putting Nigeria on the irreversible path of economic prosperity for the benefit of the masses.

The former Lagos State Governor who spoke in Yoruba told the audience among whom were the who’s who in Ekiti State politics: “Relax, this election is yours. You will use it to liberate yourselves. “They want to turn us to slaves. We are not slaves. They locked up money. Trek to your poling units, vote and stay with your vote.

“I beg you in the name of God, this is not a matter for violence. Don’t fight them.

“Those who locked up your money will eventually unlock it.

“They’re doing it to get you angry, so that you can become violent; get the election postponed and install an interim government.

“I can tell you that a rat that eats poison will die.”

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, hailed the people for turning out in large numbers and said their support would not be taken for granted.

“All of us have decided to vote for Asiwaju and there is no cause for alarm,” he said.

“Ekiti people, you have all decided to give your votes to Asiwaju and the ballot boxes will be full with votes for him because he has always stood by us and we are going to appreciate him with our votes on February 25.

“Let’s go back to our wards, homes, churches, mosques, markets and other places to spread the gospel of Asiwaju to the electorate. Tell your people to collect their PVCs, those who are still without their PVCs don’t love Asiwaju.

“Asiwaju’s vote is our votes and we must all join hands to ensure his victory. Let us elect all APC candidates for Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly with our votes.”

On his part, former Governor Fayemi said Asiwaju Tinubu had stood by Ekiti when the progressives were in the trenches. He urged the people of the state to reciprocate the good gestures of the APC presidential candidate at the polls.

He said: “This forthcoming election is our own; it is our own turn in Ekiti. The Jagaban (Tinubu) has played his own part. He stood by us in Ekiti State.

“In all our past battles, Jagaban fought our battles for us and it is now time to repay our leader.”

“As you all stood by BAO (Oyebanji) in the last governorship election on June 18, 2022, you must stand by Asiwaju on February 25, 2023. Vote for all our (APC) candidates. Use your PVCs to deal with all our opponents at the polls.”

The Senator representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Opeyemi Bamidele, expressed confidence that the electorate would vote massively for Tinubu based on his unmatched track records in governance.

He described Tinubu as a great thinker with high intellect, electrifying popularity, unifying tentacles and unflagging focus for good governance required to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari at the expiration of his tenure.

He added that Tinubu has developed a workable blueprint to rewrite Nigeria’s history and inject good governance in the body polity, assuring that he is not seeking power to gamble with Nigeria’s destiny.

The presidential campaign train led by Asiwaju Tinubu had earlier visited the Palace of Ewi of Ado Ekiti where the APC Presidential Candidate met with Ekiti traditional rulers; and other leaders of thought and unfolded the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Their arrival in the specially-built open-top luxury bus further enlivened the area as Asiwaju and his entourage waved their brooms in acknowledgement of the cheers from the crowd.

In attendance at the rally were, former Osun State Governor, Chief Bisi Akande; Chairman, TETFUND Board of Trustees, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam; Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Monisade Afuye; Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Ayedatiwa; and former Governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola.

Others included former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi and Prof. Modupe Adelabu, Senator Olubunmi Adetumbi Senator Ayo Arise, Senator Dayo Adeyeye, members of APC National Working Committee and other senior party figures.

The rally was attended by party members from all the 16 local government areas and other members of the public.

Fuji musician King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal and local musicians, Krix Walawala and Adeniyi Sese Alhaji thrilled the crowd at the rally.

· President blames banks; asks for seven days to resolve crisis
· El-Rufai: Crisis may halt elections if not addressed
· Says N300b inadequate to replace N2tr mopped up by CBN
· Naira scarcity portends danger – Southern/Middle-Belt leaders
· Akeredolu accuses CBN governor of partisanship

GOVERNORS elected on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC), yesterday, tabled before President Muhammadu Buhari a proposal to allow the old and new naira notes co-exist as a means of easing the current suffering of Nigerians.

Buhari blamed banks for the harrowing experiences of Nigerians but askedthe people to give him seven days to resolve the crisis.

Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, accused the CBN of partisanship ahead of this month’s elections and warned that “unless some urgent redemptive steps are taken to ameliorate the debilitating effects of seeming desultory and nonchalant disruptions of their normal simple lives, a series of events with unpleasant consequences is inevitable.”

Emerging from a meeting between Buhari and the governors, Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, told reporters in Hausa that the naira scarcity was capable of derailing the coming elections if not urgently addressed.

He, however, said the governors appealed to Buhari to allow the old and new naira notes to co-exist.

The governor said the naira scarcity was caused mainly by the CBN which, according to him, mopped up over N2 trillion of the old notes and pushed out only N300 billion of the new notes.

El-Rufai with whom was his Kano State counterpart, Abdullahi Ganduje, said even if the CBN had wanted to implement the cashless policy, it should have printed a half of what it mopped up, for a start.

He said the APC governors told the President that the masses were suffering and traders losing their goods owning to lack of patronage. He gave the example of tomatoes sellers that travelled to Lagos with their goods, but all got wasted because people had no money to buy.

They appealed to the President to reconsider his stance.

El-Rufai said Buhari’s response to their proposal was neither positive nor negative and that the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Atiku Bagudu, had stayed to meet the President privately with the hope of convincing him.

He said: “Yes, we sat with the President. We the APC Governors showed him our concerns and the challenges that our people have been confronting due to this policy they brought about naira notes redesign. The President explained to us what he was told and we observed that the Central Bank and the Printing and Minting Company did not tell him the reality of what is happening.

“What is happening is that, first, they said, the money they have collected from the people right now is over N2trillion, but the new notes they printed is just N300billion. How can you collect this kind of money and print N300billion?

“That is why people are facing hardship. The new notes are scarce; they are not enough. If you also look at some states and local government areas that don’t have banks and the challenges people are facing with POS; that is why we are facing these challenges.

“People don’t have money to take care of their daily domestic needs. Tomatoes sellers take it to Lagos, they don’t get to sell it; they get rotten and they lose their money. All this we explained to the President and he said within this week that is remaining, because the 10 days extension is already remaining seven days now.

“The President said he will meet the CBN and others, including the commercial banks, because they too are partly at fault. He said he will hear from them before he will know what he will do.

“The President did not show us that there is no going back on this matter. He didn’t show us that the matter is over and there won’t be further extension. He didn’t also show us that there will be extension. He only told us that he will meet the CBN and others to know what exactly is happening.

“But on our part, we told him what is happening at the state level and what the people are facing and our fears that this problem if not addressed, may cause tension in the country and we fear that it may mar the general elections, it can even stop the election. As a result of these, the President said he will look into the matter.

“It was our leader, Governor Atiku Bagudu, that spoke and other governors too. Presently, he has gone to see the President privately again. When he comes out, he will speak to you further on the matter. You can ask him what transpired.

“What we the governors are saying is that, this naira swap period should be extended, so that, everyone can get to change their money, because there’s no way N300billion can be enough to change N2trillion. Even if you say you don’t want half of the money out in cash, at least you should print N1trillion, not N300billion.

“That money will not be enough. That is the problem. So, our own advice is that the old notes and the new ones should be spent side by side until the old notes are gradually withdrawn from circulation. Any time that you print enough new notes, you can withdraw the old notes. For now, the new notes are not enough; anyone that tells you they have printed enough new notes is lying and they are telling the leaders what is not true.”

When asked about the allegation that, he was attacking Buhari for his own personal ambition, El-Rufai said: “I am not attacking Buhari, the people I am tackling are those that are around the President that are not telling him the truth about what is happening; those that are not showing him what people are passing through due to these policies.

“What the President came up with, we the governors gave him our support because we know his intention, but this thing is not properly implemented and they are not telling him the truth and we the true followers of Buhari, not those following him because of what they will eat, we have to tell him the truth. President Muhammadu Buhari knows me, he knows how far we have come with him; he knows the kind of person I am.

“So, what personal ambition am I pursuing? Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is our party’s candidate and we want him to win election. I have told Asiwaju more than 10 times, that I am not looking for government job. He is the one that insisted he wants to work with me by force.

Also speaking, Ganduje said the other complaint they made to the president was in respect of the current fuel scarcity.

His words: “Our request is for the deadline to be shifted. Not only shifted, but the old currency should go along with the new currency until old currency dies a natural death which is possible. He said he will look into that.”

On the fuel scarcity, he said the president only promised to “look into it.”

Buhari to Nigerians: Give me seven days to resolve cash squeeze

However, Buhari’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said in a statement that the President appealed to Nigerians to give him seven days to resolve the lingering cash crisis.

The President also blamed the crisis on the banks.

He expressed doubts about their commitment to the success of the policy.

“Some banks are inefficient and only concerned about themselves”, Buhari was quoted as saying.

He said: “Even if a year is added, problems associated with selfishness and greed won’t go away.”

He said he had seen television reports about cash shortages and hardship to local businesses and ordinary people, and pledged that the current extension would be used to remove all obstructions to the success of the naira swap.

He said: “I will revert to the CBN and the Minting Company. There will be a decision one way or the other in the remaining seven days of the 10-day extension.”

The governors told the President that, while they agreed that his decision on the renewal of currency was good and they were fully in support, its execution had been botched and their constituents were becoming increasingly upset.

They told the President that, as leaders of the government and party in their different states, they were becoming anxious about a slump in the economy and the coming elections.

They requested the President to use his powers to direct the concurrent flourish of the new and old notes till the end of the year.

The President said when he considered giving the approval to the policy, he demanded an undertaking from the CBN that no new notes would be printed in a foreign country and they in turn gave him assurances that there was enough capacity, manpower and equipment to print the currency for local needs. He said he needed to go back to find out what was actually happening.

Buhari told the governors that, being closer to the people, he had heard their cries and would act in a way that there will be a solution.

Why Buhari must halt petrol, cash scarcity now, by Akeredolu

In Akure, Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu asked Buhari to intervene urgently in the petrol and cash distribution crises with a view to averting “a series of events with unpleasant consequences.”

Akeredolu, in a statement he personally signed, said the current situation across the country was “eroding the goodwill enjoyed by the Federal Government for the stability achieved in the past seven years.”

He added: Nigerians have been living with scarcity of petroleum products for some time now. Fuel scarcity, a phenomenon which this current Administration had once confined to the dustbin in the chronicle of happenings in an inglorious past, has suddenly assumed a permanent feature of our daily existence and there appears to be no solution to the perennial crisis.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria, through his Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, who purports to act under the powers conferred on the institution by the CBN Act, has chosen this period, when the country prepares for general elections, to redesign the currency notes for sundry reasons, chief among which is the need for the bank to be in control of the currency notes in circulation and checkmate the unwholesome activities of terrorists and their enablers and election riggers.

“The struggles and actual fights recorded in banking halls, ATM and POS points, and markets across the country are disquieting.

“The choice of this period for the implementation of a policy, which bears an instant negative impact with no discernible mitigation in sight, raises serious suspicion of partisanship on the part of the CBN.

“The ordinary people are the victims. Depositors can no longer access their monies even to feed their families. Hunger is not the anticipated result of a monetary policy.

“While no reasonable person will contend with the decision of the CBN to discharge its statutory functions, the plight of the downtrodden must, however, be considered. Majority of Nigerians groan, at present, under the crushing weight of these crises.

“There is pervasive discontent in the land and unless some urgent redemptive steps are taken to ameliorate the debilitating effects of seeming desultory and nonchalant disruptions of their normal simple lives, a series of events with unpleasant consequences is inevitable.

“There is palpable anger engendered by frustration in the land. The wave of discontent increases with unbelievable rapidity across the country. The current hardship being experienced by the ordinary people forebodes unpleasant consequences.

“These crises may set in motion a chain of events the end of which is better imagined. The Federal Government must make a categorical pronouncement on the availability of petrol and its price since it is the general belief that the country still pays humongous amounts as subsidy.

“A situation which permits a few individuals to inflict pains on the populace, seemingly without check, is deplorable. The CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, must come clean on the new monetary policy.

“Nigerians are practically buying the country’s currency to feed when we are not in a state of war.

“The fact that the ruling party hopes to present candidates for election in the general elections in the coming weeks accentuates the level of suspicion as regards the possibility of having certain elements whose interests stand at variance with the general aspirations of the party and its committed members. There is no better way to de-market a brand than this ruthless execution of a pernicious motive. The Federal Government, through the President @MBuhari, must act now.”

Scarcity of redesigned naira portends danger, SMBLF warns

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum fears that the scarcity of the redesigned naira notes portends danger for the country.

Although the group, in a communiqué at the end of  an extraordinary meeting in Abuja on Thursday, hailed  the efforts of President Buhari and the CBN to mitigate illicit financial transactions, it said the hardship caused by the scarcity of the new notes  was intolerable.

It asked the CBN and commercial banks to take “urgent steps to improve the management of the process, to alleviate the sufferings of citizens” as the current situation “portends danger to national peace and security.”

The group also applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for his “reiterated commitment to non-interference in the electoral process to guarantee free, fair, and credible elections.”

• Ex-VP now Nigeria’s public enemy number one – APC
• Wike: I’ve been vindicated on Atiku; says policy won’t stop corruption
• Osinbajo seeks humane ways to implement currency change
• Northern, Niger Delta groups call for reversal of cash swap, withdrawal limit
• Emefiele set forest fire to catch few rats, says Shehu Sani

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar yesterday drew flak from several quarters following his Wednesday warning to the Federal Government that there should be no further extension of the naira swap.

The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC PCC) branded Atiku Nigeria’s public enemy number one for his position, while the Kaduna-based Joint Front of Civil Society Organizations of Nigeria (JFCSON) accused him of collaborating with some elements in the Presidential Villa to derail the nation’s democracy and scuttle the elections.

The APC-PCC said in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Mr.Bayo Onanuga, that the former vice president was working hand in hand with saboteurs and the fifth columnists among the operators of Money Deposit Banks and oil marketers to inflict avoidable hardship on innocent Nigerians.

Onanuga said: “The current sabotage of the naira notes swap and fuel scarcity that have caused untold hardship to millions of Nigerians across the country revealed the true character of Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as public enemy number one.

“Nigerians will recall that since the Central Bank introduced its current cash-limit and new Naira notes swap policies, Atiku Abubakar and PDP maintained opportunistic silence with the hope they will benefit from the discomfort the policies will create for Nigerians and the resentment they will generate for the ruling APC.

“While Atiku and PDP were in bed with the saboteurs and fifth columnists among the operators of Money Deposit Banks and oil marketers who created the current logjam to force the outcome of the February 25 Presidential election in favour of the former Vice President, our candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu courageously pitched his tent with the poor masses who have been most negatively impacted by the antics of these evil doers.

“Having realised they have lost the initiative and their antics exposed to Nigerians by Asiwaju Tinubu at the APC Presidential Campaign rally in Abeokuta, Atiku made a half-hearted appeal to CBN to ‘slightly’ extend the deadline for the currency swap.”

The campaign council, however, wondered why the PDP flag bearer called on the apex bank not to extend the February 10 deadline in the face of hardship been suffered by the people.

“We are currently at a loss to understand what informed the current call of Atiku on CBN not to extend the February 10 deadline despite the unmitigated hardship still being faced by many Nigerians who could not meet their basic daily needs as a result of lack of cash from banks and the empty ATM machines.

“Anyone who lives in Nigeria and not Dubai and visits banks and ATM locations will feel sad that the CBN is making our people suffer for its badly timed Naira swap policy.

“The bank’s latest fire brigade approach in approving payment of N20,000 at the counter is far from offering relief as queues are still long, agony and frustrations widening, an invitation to riots.

“This poorly implemented policy has turned Nigerians to destitutes because they cannot access their own money in their bank accounts. People cannot get money to give their kids to school or pay for daily needs at corner shops, fruit shops, including buying newspapers. Transactions in market places have plummeted.”

The APC-PCC recalled the statement made by CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele last weekend in Daura, Katsina State, that out of the N3.3 trillion in circulation, only N500 billion is in the bank vaults, and added: “So far only N1.9trillion had been received by the banks for swap.

“But people are not getting the new notes to spend, thus triggering the huge anger in the land against Emefiele.

“We thus find it ludicrous that a man who joined the call for an extension of the deadline last week is championing a new campaign against further extension because he feels the suffering of Nigerians will serve his own political end to become president at all cost.

“Atiku said callously: ‘There should be no further postponement of the new naira regime after the expiration of the February 10 deadline.’

“Anchoring his objection on the wrong reason, he said further: ‘The CBN and the Presidency should be steadfast. The merits of the new naira policy far outweigh the little inconvenience we are experiencing.’

“In passing off the suffering of our people as ‘Little inconvenience’, Atiku only comes across as a political leader disconnected from the Nigerian people that he is campaigning to govern. Certainly, living comfortably in Dubai for many years has drained Atiku of all empathy.

“This is a man who wants to be President and does not mind even if he presides over the graves of Nigerians as long as his inordinate ambition materialises in line with the prophecy of his marabouts.

“It is crystal clear to every Nigerian of conscience now that Atiku Abubakar and PDP do not mean well for our country. PDP and Atiku have become desperadoes who will wish calamity on the country as long as it makes them win an election they are destined to lose, spectacularly.

“Atiku is now public enemy number one in Nigeria. He is evil personified and must be rejected at the polls on 25 February.

“If Atiku Abubakar has the poor people of our country at heart like Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the PDP candidate will not be advocating for adherence to a policy that has become a burden too heavy to bear for our people.”

Former VP collaborating with Aso-Villa cabal to scuttle election – CSO alleges

The Kaduna-based Joint Front of Civil Society Organizations of Nigeria (JFCSON) alleged that Alhaji Atiku was collaborating with some elements in the Presidential Villa to derail the nation’s democracy and scuttle election, by opposing a further extension of the deadline for the naira swap.

The group said in a statement through its National President Barnabas Bala Yock that Atiku’s Wednesday statement opposing the intervention of the  All Progressives Congress (APC)  presidential candidate,  Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s  in the matter has confirmed that he (Atiku) and his party are part of the dangerous collaboration to tamper with due democratic processes and bring about greater conflict that to derail the system

Atiku should stop taking undue advantage of suffering Nigerians, says Niger Delta group

In a similar tirade at the PDP flagbearer, the Niger Delta Youth Congress (NDYC) told him and his party to desist from taking undue advantage of suffering Nigerians over what it called the ongoing ill-timed and poorly implemented CBN monetary policy.

Spokesperson of the NDYC, Israel Uwejeyan, also warned the CBN to refrain from using monetary policies and execution timing as a political weapon for the benefit of some politicians, to the detriment of the suffering masses

He said while the group understood the need for economic stability the CBN “must be mindful of the consequences of its actions on the masses.”

It said: “The scarcity of currency is affecting small business owners, killing start-ups and making life that was already difficult, worse for the average Nigerian through the inability to access their hard-earned money for daily purchases

Wike: I’ve been vindicated on Atiku

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, believes the naira redesign was engineered by persons who don’t want Buhari to end his tenure well on May 29th.

He wondered yesterday why such a decision he labeled as anti-people was being taken toward the end of the Buhari’s government.

He also said recent events had vindicated his revelation in September last year that some elements in the Presidency had promised the PDP and Atiku victory at the polls.

Wike spoke at the Comprehensive Secondary School field, Ibaka Town, Okrika Island during the Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign inauguration for Okrika Local Government Area.

“This policy is anti-people.  The new Naira note is not there. Even though I have money in my account, I cannot get N10,000. I cannot go and buy fuel. Who is losing? Is it not the masses? Is it not the people?” he said.

He advised the president to stop listening to persons advising him on the monetary policy under the guise that it would curb vote buying, adding that such advisors did not mean well for Nigerians and could not feel their sufferings.

Wike also dismissed the claim that the policy was being implemented to fight politicians and corruption, and wondered if Buhari could curb corruption barely three months to the end of his administration.

His words: “You’re merely fighting against the poor people. Mr President, I know the pressure, but please since two of us are going the same time, this policy, it has nothing to fight corruption at all. It has nothing to fight politicians.

“This policy is aimed to suffer the people who elected us to govern over them. Our business is not to make the people to suffer. We all know how to fight corruption. We all know how to fight politicians. This particular one, it does not come in at all.

“I know Mr. President has good intention, but there are these people who believe they know more than everybody, they go and put the country in total chaos and that is what we are suffering now.

“I have never seen anywhere in this world where you change money within six months and say no more use of old money. It doesn’t work. It takes time and you have to prepare. Look at our economy, look at the rural areas, the level of illiteracy in the country.

“Can you imagine the problem you’re causing for us. As we are here, the level of insecurity will increase. We can’t get security agencies money any longer for them to use and pay those who are in the field. Even the CIA they carry cash for operation. Even NIA, they carry cash for operation. But here, we can’t even give our security One Million Naira.”

Wike said recent events had vindicated his revelation last September that some forces in the Presidency had promised the PDP and Atiku victory at the polls.

He said such promise was the reason while Atiku and PDP boasted that they could win without the G-5 governors.

“I said they have been given assurance, but this election is not going to be based on that cabal assurance. It is on the people’s assurance”, he said

Wike insisted that everything had been exposed and that they would not win the election without Rivers.

“Whether you like it or not, you must need Rivers State. If you don’t need Rivers State you must fail. If you say you don’t want us, you’ll fail. There is no two ways about it”, he said.

Soliciting votes for the PDP governorship candidate, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, his running mate, Prof Ngozi Odu and other PDP candidates, Wike urged the people to vote overwhelmingly for the state PDP.

He said that the contract for the Okrika sandfilling project had been rewarded because the former contractor and their son had failed to finish the project.

Osinbajo seeks humane ways to implement currency change

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday, advocated the immediate deployment of more avenues by the CBN and commercial banks to improve the cash distribution process to Nigerians.

Osinbajo spoke at a meeting with some players in the FinTech space on exploring possible ways of mitigating the hardship of Nigerians under the on-going naira swap.

“You need cash to pay for transport. For instance, in Abuja how do you take ‘drop or along’ or use a Keke NAPEP without cash, or buy foodstuff on the road or in canteens, or even buying recharge cards?” he was quoted as saying by his chief spokesman, Laolu Akande.

He specifically urged regulators and the banks to deploy more Fintechs and money agents to the hinterlands to address the worrying situation.

Deadline extension of no value if scarcity persists – LCCI

In its contribution to the raging controversy over deadline extension, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) yesterday urged the Central Bank to educate the public on grey areas with regard to scarcity of the new Naira notes.

The LCCI also advised the apex bank to strength its policy implementation capacity.

The chamber said that these would reduce public tension and ensure seamless transition from the old to the new Naira notes.

The Director-General of LCCI, Dr. Chinyere Alumona, said in a statement in Lagos that when the redesigned Naira notes were launched in December, expectations were high for a smooth transition.

Alumona, however, regretted that expectations of industrialists and other members of the public might have been dashed with business deals impeded and time and value lost.

She said that the reactions showed that phasing out of old notes, withdrawal limits and scarcity of new notes might have started impacting businesses and livelihoods beyond intentions.

Alumona said that although the chamber supported the drive toward a cashless economy, redesigning the Naira notes and phasing out old ones could have been better planned.

She said that such policies should be implemented with no hardship for businesses and individuals.

Emefiele set forest fire to catch few rats, says Shehu Sani

Civil rights activist Shehu Sani dismissed the cashless policy introduced by the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele as disastrous and poisonous designed to unleash hardship on Nigerians.

“If the Buhari administration really wants to target the few corrupt, it doesn’t have to wait this long and it doesn’t have to impoverished punish the poor. Emefiele set a forest on fire in the name of catching a few rats,” Sani said.

The apex bank, according to him, has become “a political institution and a home for serpentine and delirious economic ideas.

“The CBN under Emefiele has become a shrine for misery and a breeding ground for penury. It has become a republic within a republic.”

He added: “Why didn’t the Buhari administration introduce the change of currency in 2019 and waited until 2023 if the CBN policy is about curbing vote buying?

“Nigeria has been turned into a vast refugee camp where people queue for cash ration. Nigerians have subjected to the multiple tragedies of struggling for money, searching for money, looking for money and scratching for money.

“Nigerians used to buy dollars at the black market, now they are also buying Naira at the black market.”

El-Rufai: Atiku hates poor Nigerians, wicked for views on swap

Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai had,on Thursday, called Atiku wicked man for opposing a further extension of the deadline.

El-Rufai said the PDP presidential candidate’s position was a confirmation that he has no regard or sympathy for the poor masses who are mostly affected by the policy.

“If you look at the statement from the other party after I spoke on the cash swap, we are not against the policy.

PDP faults Kaduna gov; says former VP loves poor Nigerians

Responding to El-Rufai’s description of Atiku as a hater of poor Nigerians, the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organization said the former Vice President was in support of the cashless policy because of  his love for the masses.

Atiku’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said it was inglorious for the Kaduna State governor to play politics with the situation, instead of sympathizing with the masses.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the currency crisis (and indeed all other crises), as it stands today, is a mess created by the APC and it will be imprudent of the Kaduna State governor or anyone else to associate the PDP or its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar with the crisis,” Shaibu said.

“It is curious why Governor el-Rufai and other elements of his ilk in the APC had to wait this long before they found it contingent to speak in disapproval of policies initiated by their political party. Perhaps, it is because, for them, self-interest in an election season is more important than the public interest.

“As a matter of fact, the lingering fuel scarcity and, indeed, the currency crisis of which el-Rufai so bitterly complained about did not just start today. In major cities across the country, Nigerians have been contending with the problem of fuel scarcity for almost two years in some places like the Federal Capital Territory, while el-Rufai and others crying foul in the APC turned blind eyes to the plight of Nigerians.

“On the contrary, Atiku Abubakar and the PDP have persistently brought the attention of the country to the sufferings of Nigerians by the APC administration in the past almost eight years.

In his Wednesday statement, Atiku said his view was to ensure that the purpose and objective of initiating the redesigning of the currency were not destroyed.

“The additional ten days will enable our people in the rural areas and ordinary people across the country to take the naira in their possession into the banks. It will also enable the CBN to further circulate the new currency notes among banks so that people can have easy access,” he said through his campaign office.

“There should be no further postponement of the new naira regime after the expiration of the February 10 deadline. The vote riggers are seeking to push the CBN to extend till after the election when they would have achieved their evil plots. The CBN and the Presidency should be steadfast. The merits of the new naira policy far outweigh the little inconvenience we are experiencing.”