The Nation Newspaper

Tag: note

  • On a sad note 

    On a sad note 

    It is the season of joy and merriment.  The season in which christendom celebrates the birth of the Messiah, of Him that was written, according to the Bible , would save the world. In celebration of the season, Christians prepare well ahead for it. Those days when the economy was booming, they spared no expenses in their preparations.

    The prevailing economic downturn has made us all the wiser. We have learnt to do things moderately – celebrate without much fanfare, eat only when necessary and cut down on expenses considered wasteful and unhelpful. Prudence is now the keyword for individuals and organisations.

    It was in the heat of these preparations and with all eyes already set on the D-Day, which was barely 48 hours away, that the Plateau was on the boil again. For the umpteenth time, gunmen struck in some communities in Bokkos and Rafin Dadi Local Governments of Plateau State, killing, maiming, raping, burning and looting. In their wake, they left sorrow, tears and blood (STB), as Fela termed the aftermath of the destruction of his Kalakuta Republic in 1976 by those referred to as  ‘Unknown Soldiers’ by a judge.

    These gunmen too are unknown and they have for long being troubling the Plateau, leaving behind their ‘regular trade mark of STB’, apologies to Fela once again. As usual, the besieged communities are peopled by the poorest of the poor – people that can barely make ends meet. But at Christmas, they forget their poverty and pain, albeit temporarily, to revel in the birthday of Jesus. To them, the celebration of Christmas is routine.

    Whether they have money or not; whether tney have new clothes or not; whether they can afford chicken or not, Christmas still holds a special place in their hearts. So, no matter their condition, they must celebrate it. But the gunmen spoiled their fun, even before it started. According to reports, they stormed the communities in the wee hours of the night and began a systemic destruction of the place. They yanked husbands, wives and children off their beds, shooting some to death at pointblank range.

    It was a bestial act; something that is not expected at a time like this. This is a season of joy and celebration; a season to remember the birth of the Prince of Peace and live in peace and harmony with ourselves. Plateau has not known peace for long, but at a season like this, its fragile peace should not have been broken. What did the marauders come looking for when Christmas was at hand?

    To kill, maim, burn, loot and rape? The marauders have done their worst. There is nothing more that they can do. As we take stock of the tragedy as a nation, let us in retrospect ponder over these incessant attacks. What have these people achieved with these attacks beyond killing, maiming,  raping and looting? Why have these attacks become frequent? Why have the security operatives not been able to stop them in their tracks?

    Read Also: Nigeria is in good hands, Tinubu assures citizens

    Can the attacks still be reduced to the farmers/herders clashes? These incessant attacks have gone beyond that. There is more to it than we all know. Only the attackers can say what they want. Whatever it is, is it by these killings that they will achieve it? In these latest killings, the casualty figure is conflicting. The police put it at 96, while the Bokkos and Rafin Dadi Local Government Chairmen, Monday Kassa and Danjuma Dakil, said it was 155. The conflicting figure is not the issue because human life cannot be quantified. Even, if it was one person that was killed, the atrack remains horrendous, despicable and condemnable.

    The essence of the figure is to have a record of the victims. The public may want to know the numbers, but what is of greater importance is for us to remember that the victims are human beings like us who were unfortunately killed in a callous way. It could have been anybody because these marauders do not discriminate when they strike. But for the purposes of closure and in order to put their family members’ minds at rest, we should get the casualty figure right.

    It is painful that the year is ending on this sad note for the bereaved families. My heart goes out to them. Getting the killers and bringing them to justice will go a long way to healing their wounds.

  • A note to Anambra voters

    SIR: As the countdown for the Anambra State gubernatorial election begins in earnest, the electorates have suddenly become the beautiful bride for the highly ambitious politicians.

    The stage is already set for the familiar campaign of calumny, mudslinging and innuendos always associated with Nigerian politicians. As at the last count, the number of the contenders for the governorship seat has risen to 37 most of them pretenders.

    The time has come therefore, for Ndi Anambra to carefully beam their search light on the serious contenders whose antecedents and political pedigree are easily verifiable to enable them make up their mind on whom they will entrust with their sacred mandate for the next four years.

    The candidates must be subjected to intense scrutiny by Ndi Anambra on their past records as well as their financial capacity to prosecute their campaign efforts. In addition, the sources of their finances must equally be ascertained. After decades of bad governance, gangsterism and mindless looting of the state’s scarce resources fuelled by the godfatherism syndrome which sadly portrayed Anambra State in bad light as a pariah state, Ndi Anambra have become wiser and will no longer be taken for a ride by conscienceless and self-serving politicians. For the past 11 years or so, Anambra State witnessed tremendous transformation in all spheres of human endeavour. From security of lives and property to socio-economic development of the state, it has been a spectacular success story and nothing whatsoever must be done to stop this orderly march by Ndi Anambra.

    Another burning issue to be carefully considered is the current debate on the rotation of political offices with particular reference to the office of the governor of the state. The office is presently zoned to the North Senatorial District from where the incumbent Governor Willie Obiano hails. Through consensus by the major political parties in the state, the governorship seat was zoned to the North for two terms of eight years. The Central Senatorial Zone had earlier produced former Governor Chris Ngige who was on the saddle for about three years and was quickly followed by ex-Governor Peter Obi who held sway in the state for eight years making a total of 11 years the zone had occupied the exalted office. The North now has four more years to complete its term before the office finally moves to the South Zone. This arrangement no doubt makes for equity, justice and fairness where all the people of the three zones will have a sense of belonging in the affairs of the state.

    Lack of equity, justice and fairness obviously is the bane of the Nigerian political system which has given rise to the current agitations across the country.

    Media reports quote both the candidates of the PDP, Osaeloka Obaze and that of the APC, Dr Tony Nwoye as having made solemn commitments to serve only one term in office if elected so as ostensibly to complete the second term of the incumbent governor. This is nothing but simply a political gimmick aimed at hoodwinking the unsuspecting electorate. It is a well known fact that political promises are hardly kept by the new crop of Nigerian politicians and as such the reported promises by the two eminently qualified contenders could be taken with a pinch of salt.

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan suffered crushing and humiliating defeat during the 2015 Presidential election largely due to the written promise he allegedly made to his party PDP that he would serve only one term in office but later reneged on the promise. In order to keep the zoning formula alive therefore, it is only logical and sensible that the incumbent Governor  Obiano should be supported by all Anambrarians despite any misgiving, to complete his second term from his zone which barring any unforeseen circumstances will definitely end in 2022.

     

    • Nze Nwabueze Akabogu (JP),

    Enugwu-Ukwu, Anambra State.

  • Tomi Odunsi pens emotional note to Eric Arubayi’s wife on birthday

    Tomi Odunsi pens emotional note to Eric Arubayi’s wife on birthday

    Actress Tomi Odunsi, popularly known as Shalewa in the series Tinsel, on May 24th, 2017, wrote a heart-warming birthday message to her best friend, Chinonso Arubayi, (the late Eric Arubayi wife), who also happens to be her birthday mate, with assurance that they will both carry the burden together.

    “Ore mi… My Darlyn Nonso. The past 4months has been the toughest we have ever known in life…but I must say, I am grateful for birthdays without me because God knew you would need those memories for today and forever. My dear Nonso, you are so strong, the strength the God has given during this times has been such a miracle. My dear friend, don’t cry… you shall weep no more. Don’t be afraid, the Lord your God is your strength…You are not alone.”

    She continued, “Eric…see as you come leave am for me, I no gree this one o. You said you will fight till the end and I know you did your best. So we will mudiaga!!! I know you love to watch us like little kids whenever we were all together, I remember you will watch us and shake your head with a smile as we display our childlikeness in front of you…Today we will try, it’s hard… but we will.

    “Birthdays together can’t be the same without you. We love you but she loves you more. Thank God for that sweet child. Thank God for everybody that stood strong for Nonso, Nonso’s family, friends’ especially; your family, friends and loved ones with love and care they stood strong. May God continue to comfort and restore all that is lost.  Nonso, today we will choose to be grateful for what we have left, today you will take a break from the tears, and it is time to joy in the Lord. I love you so much, words can explain.”

  • Last ‘suicide’ note to the President

    By the time you will be reading this letter, we would be on our way out of Lagos for our last camp together for the greatest challenge of our lives: a suicide mission to a world record attempt.

    A group of 134 young Nigerians set to attempt one of the hardest world records ever: the longest marathon theatre performance by a team. By this, the team is expected to be on stage for 150 hours, non-stop, day and night, not sleeping, not resting, for seven days and seven nights, acting, dancing and singing. The highest that has ever been attempted was 76 hours. And they said it is suicidal to attempt 150 hours non-stop.

    Our bodies will tire out of fatigue. Our spirits will break out of sleeplessness. We were even told that we may die after the fourth day if we continue without rest and sleep. Our voices would crack from talking and singing non-stop for seven days. Our bones will hurt from acting non-stop for seven days. And we have been told that the only way out, to avoid anyone of us fainting and dying, is to quit. And that is the only thing each one of us has vowed never to do: QUIT.

    As we would raise high the Green-White-Green flag and fly it in honour and sing the country’s national anthem in pride and in respect to our fatherland, we want our President to know the few young Nigerians, who against all odds, have decided to stand in honour and put the country’s glory first before self-honour and uphold the honour and glory of the nation, Nigeria.

    We are 134. We could have chosen the gun but we chose dignity. We could have chosen fraud but we chose honour. We could have chosen the path of war and dishonour but we chose this noble hard path to honour our fatherland with the sacrifice of our courage and youthfulness.

    Exactly one year ago, over 160 of us were called from different streets, different hoods, different families and different states. We were told of the assignment before us and told of the huge responsibilities that we would be putting on our shoulders should we decide to attempt the Guinness world record challenge. We were told the glory would be for Nigeria and our names may never be mentioned nor remembered. The door was left open for anyone with a faint heart to leave. Only 134 stayed and I was picked to lead the team of the 134 young Nigerians that have chosen to put their lives at stake for a nation that may not have given them everything, but has given them hope.

    In the last one year of staying together as a team, preparing day and night for the world record challenge, we have each discovered the true essence of brotherhood and unity and realised the main reason why we were each selected from different states to discover ourselves and find a reason to stay together and battle the challenge before us as a united team, or go our separate ways and leave the task of the world record attempt undone but we chose not to be quitters.

    We fought. We argued. We settled. And we fought and argued more. Yet, not once, did we consider abandoning the common cause and challenge that brought all of us together. Soon, our differences became our strength and our strength became the united front through which today we stand together to confront the task that is ahead of us: the task of bringing the world record glory, for the longest marathon theatre performance by a team, to Nigeria.

    There were days we had enough to eat and share. There were days we had very few. And still, there were more days we had nothing. But through each day, we had abundant courage to stand together, to fight together and to confront the one enemy that stands before us: the world record challenge.

    Soon, the long wait would be over and we would say the last goodbyes to our families and friends, hold their hands one more time, feel the warmth of their embraces, touch their tears and hope in their prayers that we would return alive and trust in their kind memories of us should we never return to their embraces again.

    Soon, we would mount the world stage to face the greatest challenge of our young lives: four days of theatre performances, non-stop, day and night. In our hands would be our nation’s green-white-green flag and on our tongues would be our nation’s national anthem which we would sing in glory and honour as a reminder to all that the sacrifices and labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain.

    Soon, we would climb the world stage to attempt to set a new world record for Nigeria for the longest marathon theatre performance by a team. It is the first time ever in Nigeria that a team of young people came together of their own will, of their own desire and with their own resources, to attempt a world glory for Nigeria. It would be the first time ever that young Nigerians are putting aside their common differences and their self-interest and personal glories, to stand as a united team to win glory for Nigeria.

    We are 134 young people, and no doubt we are many, hence, our names may not be remembered, nor mentioned in articles and newspaper headlines, but one name that would be remembered, through ages and time, is the name Nigeria. And for this we are willing to die. For this we are willing to risk everything. For this we are willing to give everything for the one chance to stand in honour for this great country.

    We have done everything there is to do. Rehearsed our dances and songs and mastered our lines. We have done all required daily exercises and stayed off things that could affect our strength and stamina on the stage through the 150 hours. We have prayed, holding hands and putting all our hope on God. We have done everything required of us and though we should not be afraid, yet we are, because we do not know who amongst us will fall first, and who amongst us will stand through. We each look at each other closely everyday, afraid to take our eyes away for we are each afraid of whose face we would be seeing for the very last time.

    Dear President, we all wish we could have a handshake with you before we climb the world stage as this would be a great honour and a strong motivation for our young hearts as we dared this world record challenge, but we realise this may not be possible, so we write to seek your prayers and fatherly blessings as we stand in honour for the nation we strongly believe in.

    This we desire above all, that you pray for us, that every Nigerian pray for us, as we remind every Nigerian everywhere, that there is no greater glory and honour than standing for one’s country. And through this sacrifice, we sincerely pray that every young Nigerian will learn the honour of standing up for ones fatherland in sacrifice, in dignity, in glory.

  • Note to IG Idris

    SIR: On Tuesday February 7, I travelled from Port Harcourt to Sokoto State.

    The level of policing I witnessed on the trip was first-rate. I saw battle-ready policemen at every corner and bend on the road as we journeyed out of Port Harcourt. In many locations, policemen were only 100 metres away from each other at designated checkpoints. I appreciated their presence on the road – who wouldn’t? It gives people confidence in government when they know that the safety of lives is important and not subordinated – although I wasn’t impressed with the underhanded practice when money had to change hands from drivers to policemen at every stop.

    I had expected these police presence to be a matter of course everywhere gavel-to-gavel throughout my long trip but it wasn’t. When we passed the sleepy town of Okene at 9:30pm, a town at war with itself where a nightly curfew I heard is in place, policemen were at strategic points to enforce it. Little wonder – we never saw a being outside save for these policemen. All indigenes were in Noah’s Ark. It is a crying-shame to the people of Okene I must say. Why are they always in the news for the wrong reasons?

    I found it ironic to see that from Zuba to Kaduna, we never encountered one police checkpoint. So I imagined that we may see some from Kaduna to Zaria but there were none. Could it be the cold from Kaduna to Zaria that prevented setting up a checkpoint? It was scary. Imagine if we had run into good-for-nothings?

    So I guessed that the cops were busy and we would see checkpoints from Zaria to Giwa, but there were none. This policing strategy was befuddling. How is it that one part of Nigeria is heavily policed and another is not? To think that the north isn’t crime free?

    I had hoped something will give and see cops on the road or patrol vans from Giwa to Funtua but again there were none. The first patrol vehicle I saw from Zuba to Funtua was the one stationed at the boundary between Katsina and Zamfara.

    God forbid if we had run into robbers, they would have taken seven-forevers to fleece us, rape the women and do other things good-for-nothings do without conscience with no help in sight.

    What is the policing philosophy of the Nigerian police under your watch sir and what is the domestic agenda of the Nigerian police? I find it hard to comprehend.

     

    • Simon Abah,

    Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

  • Start preparing handover note, APC advises Yuguda

    Start preparing handover note, APC advises Yuguda

    Ahead of the governorship election in Bauchi State, Governor Isa Yuguda of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  has been asked to start preparing his handover note.

    Yuguda has also been charged to perish his senatorial ambition in the Bauchi South District and go back to his farm as he promised.

    APC chieftain Alhaji Adamu Lar gave the advice at a press conference. He said: ”Yuguda cannot win any election in the state again. Yuguda should get ready to hand over to the APC governorship candidate, Mohammed Abubakar, who is stooped to conquer the PDP governorship candidate, Hon. Auwal Jatau come February 28, 2015”.

    Yuguda, a former Managing Director of Merchant Bank, Minister of State for Works and Transport, Aviation  Minister is, vying for the Senate against a retired Controller of Customs, Malam Ali aWakili.

    Lar,who is also the Bauchi South Vice Chairman of the APC, said: “My advice to Yuguda is based on the truth that he has damaged and ravaged the state economy so very irresponsibly,and does not deserve any office in the state anymore”.

    “Besides, the governor has for the whole of his second tenure refused to democratically conduct local government election and by so doing he has deprived the people of development and due representation at grassroots level”, Lar stated.

  • Ghazali Lawal starts on a fresh note

    Ghazali Lawal starts on a fresh note

    The Magaji of Kaikai in Katsina State, His Royal Highness, Ghazali Lawal Kaikai, has started the year on a fresh note as he tied the nuptial knot with his beautiful bride, Zaynab, in Katsina State on January 3rd, 2015 (yesterday). The royal wedding drew many from different walks of life. Kaikai is one of the youngest monarchs in Northern Nigeria.

  • A note to NANS President

    Though my heart is heavy but I have not come in its heaviness because emotions are known to ultimately becloud judgment and that is what I have come to do today; to judge our national malady, to appraise the educational insanity and to give resounding rounds of applause to the mediocrity of the Nigeria students [Of whom I am one].

    I have come to try to take you down the lane called memory, as we flip through the pages of history, trying to revisit the relics of time and learn the lessons that history teaches.

    Many may have sent you condolences after the death of the Senate President [NANS] and other NANS faithful whose lives were offered on the altar of cluelessness of a nation seeking self-definition. I would have loved to join the army of friends, unionists and public office holders who have sent their deep regrets and say, that the soul of the FAITHFUL departed [emphasis on faithful] rest in due peace, but this would be a slap on the face of the departed. Though I want them to rest in peace, but saying “rest in peace” like every other person would not necessarily make them rest in peace, but acting against the vices that put them six feet beneath our feet would be the best feat to make them rest in peace. Lip regrets are only a disservice to the fallen meteors.

    Lend me your ears, that I may bury my words in them, but more importantly your heart, that I may inscribe my thoughts on its walls, that we may safely transform our nation and put the departed to rest. For their sakes, do not turn on the deaf ears as I play from this drum of observation and intellect. For the sakes of the fallen, do not pretend to be blind as I extend these vices to your frontlet, for their sakes mind my words and tend to my advice, then together we shall take a handful of the sands of fulfilment and pour on their caskets as we bade them adios and watch them rest in sane peace.

    Over the past week, I have been buried in the pool of pain and conflicting reports, I have been trying to scan all information gotten on the screen of truth to see which one comes through, like Abraham Lincoln advised, but almost to no avail. Some reported that the riot in the University of Uyo just led to the loss of life of a promising young Kingsley, while others said there were about three to six students who lost their dear lives in the plot. With respect to the attempted peacemakers (NANS Senate President and co.), who were victims of the road crash, some reported that the death was caused by a crash into a trailer; some said it was caused by police roadblocks, and some others opined that the crash emanated from the mood drinks taken by our departed faithful.

    What report(s) to believe in this chronic media confusion is not my plan of action today, but the insanity that surrounds corporate existence as Nigerian students. How we handle issues, when we react to apparent oppression and our overall responsiveness to the matters that affect us the most. We now fight the wrong enemies; we have become myopic in our dealings and now have a flare for dealing with frivolous issues. We run from pillar to post in a bid to cure ringworm even when leprosy has taken over our feeble existence.

    Now to history’s lane. In 1961, the National Union of Nigerian Students [NUNS] protested against the decision of the Nigerian government to enter into Anglo-Nigeria defence pact with British government. The students saw it as selling the Nigerian birthright and resisted. The students involved were victimized by the government yet they took their stand.

    This was a time when the student body which you head today influenced national and even international policies that were perceived capable of crippling our existence. This was a time when they knew that leprosy if not tackled will birth banes that are beyond the management of the ringworm killer.

    These times are gone; our hobbies now lie in staining the pages of newspapers with baseless interviews and write-ups, with condolence messages of deaths that could be avoided, with complaints to the man who is trying to cut our toes, while applauding the one with a loaded rifle facing our fore-head.

    Over the past few years, the budgetary allocation towards Nigerian students has been extremely cruel. From 2006 to 2010, less than N300billion has been recurrently allocated to a sector, with much more going to security, yet we have our hands akimbo. In 2011, N1.592trillion [about 35%] was allocated to security, while education was ailing at less than 10% as though we live in a war ridden nation. Year 2012 was no different with 8.4% [394.58bn of 4.697trn]. The final deception came in 2013, when education was said to have got the highest allocation, with just 426.5bn which amounted to 11.489% of the national budget.

    NUNS of 1961 could pre-empt the government, and act against policies perceived as harsh. The same could have applied to us if we could pre-empt all of this. The UNIUYO crisis which led to these avoidable deaths all began from N2,000 and N200 introduction of GST and transport fare respectively and the inhumane intervention of armed policemen in the university. If you as the head of NANS could make NANS stand firm on the policy of “no use of arms” within our institution by the police, all of this could be avoided. Besides, if the school was properly funded as it should be, and we could fight for our rightful 26% of the budget, the introduction of such fees may be impossible.

    In 1983, students were expelled from the University of Maiduguri due to protest against the then Vice Chancellor, Prof. Jubril Aminu. This was taken up by late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) and the students were restored to the university. This was one of those NANS victories, but since the demise of the Senior Advocate of the Masses (SAM), NANS has not found it pertinent enough to find a worthy replacement and have someone like this that would be a fierce defence for us in the days of trouble.

    Like Desmond Tutu said; “Don’t raise your voice, improve your argument”! I heard you were dealt with by Oyo State’s “operation burst” operatives, due to your intentions and deeds to barricade the road leading to UCH in a bid to shut down all of the nation’s universities. Though this is difficult to believe, but if any truth dwell in this then you are raising your voice, not improving your argument. We cannot achieve results by working on the impulses generated by these deaths without strategizing on how we can on a long term conquer these present realities.

    Finally brother, I am sure I am not the first Nigerian student to write you, and may not be the last, but I plead with you, not to turn deaf ears on my feeble argument, let it not be another round of drums to the deaf or lightning to the blind. Sieve it through and take what we both know can make Donald, Kingsley, Abdulazeez, Jerry, Japheth and Asa rest in perfect peace. As youths, Benjamin D’Israeli calls us the trustees of posterity; we are called to be architects of the future, not its victims.

     

    • Adebayo writes from the University of Ibadan.

  • A note to my dad on his birthday

    SIR: It is normal and often a cliché for people to address their fathers as mentors, role models and a source of inspiration. This sometimes, is not always true, especially when the values and philosophies of a father are not reflected in the son who claims he is a protégé.

    For me I have actually been mentored, pampered, scolded, molded, instructed, cared for by this man whom I have grown to love and admire.

    A man would have me sleep on him all through the night. One who would always come to pick me up in nursery and primary school despite his schedules. This same man has taken the pain of sending me to the best schools anyone would ask for. This man has brought himself so low at one point that my siblings and I would have the best in life.

    A man who would allow me sit with him on the driver’s seat on our way to the village. One who shouts on me and comes back the following morning to apologise to a five-year- old. Who carries me to bed each time I doze off in the sitting room. This same man made out time to teach me how to tell the time with our wall clock.

    Interestingly, the signature I append today on documents, this man drafted it for me. A man who took me to secondary school and tertiary institutions on my first day in school, stayed with me until I was finally registered. He still came all the way from Eastern Nigeria to Abuja for my visiting days. It is because of this same man that I have been privileged to be who I am today.

    The lessons and values I learnt from him are now what drive and I instill same in my three lovely sisters. To crown it all, this same man is still the same and has not changed one bit. He made out time to teach me how to drive; in fact, he has taken the pain of trying to find a suitable mate for me!

    As he marks another year of his birth, please join me and celebrate this man of integrity, love, care, a leader of people, an indefatigable fighter, an ever loving husband (my mum has never bought a phone), and an inspiration to myself and siblings.

    Happy birthday to Engineer Nicholas Ej. Azubuike Osuagwu.

    •Emeka Davies Azubuike,

    Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State.

  • Is this the end of N5,000 note?

    Is this the end of N5,000 note?

    On December 19, 2011, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) proposed and obtained the approval of President Goodluck Jonathan to embark on the currency restructuring exercise, codenamed ‘Project CURE’.

    On August 23, CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi announced the new denomination of 5,000 naira bill. He said it would help Nigeria’s economy by providing a “befitting currency structure”.

    Under the new structure, the existing denominations of N50, N100, N200, N500 and N1,000 will be redesigned with added new security features while a new high currency denomination, N5,000, will be brought into circulation.

    Sanusi explained that the lower banknote denominations of N5, N10 and N20 would be coined, meaning that naira currency structure will now be twelve- six coins and six banknotes.

    While the coins will now be 50k, N1, N2, N5, N10 and N20, the banknotes will be N50, N100, N200, N500, N1,000 and N5,000.

    But there was a lot of public outcry against the planned introduction of N5,000 banknote, with some saying it would fuel inflation, aid corruption and that it was at variance with the CBN’s cash-less policy that de-emphasises the use of cash.

    The apex bank and some economists said it would not cause inflation because the amount of money in circulation would not increase.

    On September 6, former president Olusegun Obasanjo said the N5,000 would cause inflation and kill production.

    On Septmeber 12, Sanusi replied Obasanjo, saying the ex-president is a good farmer but a bad economist.

    On September 18, the House of Representatives and the Senate asked President Jonathan to stop the N5000 banknote.

    On September 20, President Jonathan eventually directed that further action on the approved restructuring exercise be stopped.