Top Story

Again, APC Kaduna Gov. el-Rufai explodes, blasts Buhari over old notes

189

A livid Kaduna Governor Nasir el-Rufai has again attacked President Muhammadu Buhari for allegedly flagrantly violating the Supreme Court’s order that the old notes should remain legal tender pending the determination of the case before it.

Persecondnews recalls that Buhari had in a broadcast on February 16 approved only the N200 notes to exist as legal tender until April 10 and declared that N500 and N1,000 notes have ceased to be legal tender.

On February 8, the apex court had ruled that the old notes should be allowed to circulate concurrently pending the determination of the suit before it.

El-Rufai, an APC governor while countering Buhari in a state broadcast also on Thursday, described the President’s address earlier on Thursday limiting the legal tender status of old notes to only N200 as a “total disregard and disobedience” of the ruling of February 8 which was extended further yesterday by the Supreme Court.

The governor, who also blasted the Attorney-General of the Federation, Malam Abubakar Malami (SAN), said his “misguided action to mislead the President into engaging in this public violation of the order of the highest court of the land showed how desperate the policy architects were to cause national chaos, by showing open contempt for the judiciary.”

el-Rufai said: “The decision to recognize only N200 as legal tender till April that the President announced this morning was offered to the state governments as part of proposals for an out-of-court settlement three days ago.

“The Federal Government asserted that this was offered because all the ‘old’ N1,000 and N500 notes had been destroyed.

“We rejected the offer and proved to the officials that not a single higher denomination note had been destroyed. We also believe that circulating N200 only to be inadequate in alleviating the suffering that we see every day.

“We insisted that all the components of the Supreme Court order should be complied with.”

In an apparent affront to the President, el-Rufai asked the people of Kaduna State to continue to use the old naira notes in line with the Supreme Court’s ruling.

“But back home, what do we do in Kaduna State? My dear people of Kaduna State, with the foregoing revelations, it is clear that our peaceful coexistence as a state, and a nation, is being placed in deliberate danger using the intentional combination of fuel and cash supply disruptions.

“These evil people using the instrumentality of the Federal Government and the President as convenient covers are willing to truncate our democracy because they have personally lost out.

“They are massively deploying resources and tools to defeat the political party that gave us the platform to serve the country just because they could not impose the candidates of their choice. Let us not help them.

“Let us stay calm and peaceful, and support the lawful means being utilized to solve our problems. On behalf of the Kaduna State Government, I wish to assure you that none of you would lose the money you have in old notes.

“Let no artificial and illegal deadline frighten you. Whether you live in towns, villages or in our isolated rural communities, do not feel stampeded to deposit your old notes in the banks.

“Hold on to them. Continue to use them as legal tender as ordered by the Supreme Court of Nigeria. No deadline can render them worthless, ever. The law is on your side.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007 and the Bills of Exchange Act, both oblige the CBN to recognize your old notes and give you value in new notes whenever you bring them to the CBN, even in the next 100 years.

“Therefore, as your governor, I wish to assure you that the Kaduna State Government, in collaboration with elected legislators, traditional institution, elected local government councils, markets, and traders associations will help you collect, record, document, collate and deliver all your old notes to the Kaduna branch of the Central Bank on your behalf into the new ones immediately after the elections.

“We will also ensure the delivery of your new notes to your various locations without any hardship or expense on your part. We shall save you any panic and the stress of a long journey from your community to the CBN office in our state capital, from March until December 2023 if need be.

“For the avoidance of doubt, all the old and new notes shall remain in use as legal tender in Kaduna State until the Supreme Court of Nigeria decides otherwise. I, therefore, appeal to all residents of Kaduna State to continue to use the old and new notes side by side without any fear.

“The Kaduna State Government and its agencies shall seal any facility that refuses to accept the old notes as legal tender and prosecute the owners. If need be, we shall take further consequential actions according to the law.

“While urging you all not to fall for these antics of the enemies of Nigeria, please be patient and continue to exercise resilience in the face of open provocation and deliberate disinformation,” el-Rufai also said.

“We encourage you to be ready with your PVC to vote in the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections. We are doing all we can to ensure that it is peaceful, orderly and hitch-free.

“I appeal to you to understand the shenanigans of these unpatriotic elements in Abuja and ensure you vote massively for the intended victims of these last-minute policies of needless hardship and incitement of the citizens – our party, the APC and its candidates in all the elections,” the governor said.

 

Leave a comment

Related Articles

Breaking: Pres. Tinubu orders release of #EndBadGovernance underage protesters

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate release of all minors arrested...

Just in: Seven new ministers take oaths of office

President Bola Tinubu has sworn in seven newly appointed ministers, directing them...

Just in: Appeal Court acquits ex-CJN, Onnoghen, orders FG to unfreeze his account

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Monday discharged and acquitted...

ECOWAS, Nigeria, Morocco, Mauritania Commit to $26bln African Atlantic Gas Pipeline Project

“The project, conceived in 2016 during King Mohammed VI of Morocco’s visit...

#EndBadGovernance protests: AGF to Police: Transfer casefiles of 72 defendants to my office

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince...

Updated: Abuja Court grants N1.1 bln bail to 114 #EndBadGovernance protesters

A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted a N10 million bail...

Just in: 76 #EndBadGovernance protesters arraigned in Abuja

The detained 76 #EndBadGovernance protesters just arrived at the Federal High Court...

Breaking: 10 fatalities confirmed as building collapses in Ibadan

A weehours building collapse in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Thursday...

Breaking: After five hours of screening, Senate confirms Bianca Ojukwu, six others as ministers

The Senate on Wednesday screened and confirmed the nominations of Ambassador Bianca...

Senate begins screening of seven ministerial nominees

The Senate has started screening the seven ministerial nominees of President Bola...

Alleged homosexuality: RCCG suspends two pastors, launches investigation

For allegedly breaching the church’s doctrine and the Holy Bible, two pastors...

Helicopter crash: NNPC Ltd. spokesman Soneye cancels golden jubilee birthday celebration in honour of departed souls

Mr. Olufemi Soneye, the chief corporate communications officer of the Nigerian National...

Biden in 30-minute phone call with Tinubu, hails Binance executive release

President Bola Tinubu and US President Joe Biden held a 30-minute phone...

Tinubu Receives Briefing on Local Currency Oil Sales Amid Pricing Disputes

President Bola Tinubu has received a briefing from the Implementation Committee on...

Kcee and Flavour engage in heated exchange over Igbo music style

The Nigerian music industry is once again witnessing a brewing fiery clash...

In Lagos, 150 Ajegunle widows, vulnerable lifted with food items, cash gifts

As part of efforts to provide succor and the much-needed support to...

Economic hardship: I’m not T-pain, you are mischievous, Tinubu replies Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has come under fire from the Presidency...

Just in: Air Peace denies plan to hike Lagos-Abuja airfare

Air Peace, one of Nigeria’s leading airlines, has dismissed rumours about raising...

Updated: Copter Crash: Search Still Ongoing, No Other Additional Bodies Found – NNPC Ltd’s Spokesman Soneyea

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPC Ltd) has said beyond the...

Nigeria joins BRICS as partner country, to boost economic ties

Nigeria has become a partner country of the BRICS economic bloc, alongside...