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Renowned Luminaries, Falana, Others, Alleged “Executive Rascality” by the President
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Human Rights Activist, Odinkalu Says, El-Rufai Should Be Charged For Treason
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An average politician Needs ₦70million To Prosecute Election, Says Lawmaker, Hon. Doguwa
The Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari stirred the hornet’s nest yesterday, Thursday over his declaration that the ongoing Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Naira Swap policy remains, with minor alteration that the old two hundred naira notes would be used alongside the new ones. This would go on till April 10 this year when the new banknotes have been adequately circulated.
The President, in his submission, recalled the inherent benefits the country has derived since the monetary policy was introduced. According to him, over two trillion naira have been mopped up as money trapped in the den of fraudsters. Buhari also disclosed that the policy has absymally reduced kidnapping and other vices that aided criminalities in the near past, besides check mating vote buying and election rigging.
The President’s pronouncements elicited conflicting reactions from a cross section of Nigerian professionals and politicians alike. For most Nigerians, Buhari has placed the nation on the fridges of anarchy.
The Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai stoked the fire yesterday while the mantle was on as he declared that the President’s declaration against the Supreme Court ruling was tantamount to allowing anarchy to fester.
Though, El-Rufai and the council of Governor had earlier prevailed on the President to allow the old naira notes and the new ones co-exist. But the idea was outrightly rebuffed by the policy anchor, the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
The Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbjabimilia came down heavily on the President over his hardline stance on the currency Swap. Citing different sections of the constitution to buttress his claim that Buhari has flouted the law, he believed the policy would not help to check voting buying and election rigging.
But the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has hailed the President position on the New naira notes imbroglio.
The PDP presidential candidate expressed optimism that the policy would guarantee that the forthcoming general elections will be credible and free from unnecessary encumbrances that would joepardize the process.
In a swift response, renowned senior Nigerian Lawyers, Femi Falana, Paul Ananaba, Ebun Adegboruwa, all Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, each took their turn to harshly criticised the President’s decision on the currency Swap matter.
For them, Buhari’s declaration was clear case of flagrant disregard to court ruling. They were of the opinion that the President’s pronouncements has made the judiciary a subject of mockery and ridicule in the ongoing democratic process.
In their humble submissions, they cited different sections of the constitution that proved that the President must bow to the Supreme Court ruling.
They, however, described the President’s position on ruling the Supreme Court judgement as a clear case of demonstration of “Executive rascality.”
On the contrary, renowned human rights activist and former chairman, Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission, Professor of law, Chidi Odinkalu postulated that the “Jakara” judgements emanating from the courts in recent times, once again, questions the credibility of courts’ rulings
The vocal lawyer who said he doesn’t want to join issues with other luminaries kicking against what he describes as a well orchestrated monetary policy by the President Buhari’s administration, posited that the President declaration was final as no Law in the constitution that binds him to do otherwise.
” I’m not a fan of the President. But for this one, I stand with him. What do the politicians need money for? To buy votes and rig elections.
They, politicians are crying because they don’t have access to cash. This must the most credible election to be conducted, and the president has said so. Everyone is feeling the pitch of the policy. But it’s a pain worth bearing. Let’s all endure, it will soon pass away,” said the Activist.
The Activist criticized the Kaduna State Governor for ordering his colleagues to continue using the old naira notes alongside the new ones.
He stated that such posture is tantamount to treasonable offence and should not be treated with levity, adding that the President has the Executive powers to over rule on monetary policy matters.
The majority leader, House of Representatives, Honourable Ado Doguwa who also doubles as the Chairman, Naira Redesign Committee, disclosed that an average politician of his ilks would require at least ₦70million ,(Seventy million naira) physical cash to prosecute an election.
The Lawmaker who thanked the President for his pronouncements as he’s in the right direction but added that the President’s declaration falls short of the Supreme Court ruling.
He stated that under the new arrangement, the CBN Governor must be told to implement the policy to the latter.
Conversely, the PDP presidential campaign Spokesman, Segun Sowumi said that politicians think about the next election while statesmen think about the next generation, adding that by this declaration, the President has shown that his heart is with the downtrodden in Nigeria.
He stated that the President has a duty to beam his searchlight on those clamouring to frustrate the policy.
Sowumi who criticised those calling for more time for the policy to mature, disclosed that it took India just Four hours to implement the policy in that country But Nigerians, it came as a surprise, even months after the policy had been introduced.
The politician said the benefits of the policy cannot be swept under the carpet as it has drastically reduced crimes as kidnapping, money laundering, counterfeiting and mopping funds that were hitherto out of the system.
He declared that the President has frustrated attempts by the APC members to monetise the Elections, adding that Buhari has yielded to the cry of the poor for allowing only the old two hundred naira notes to co-exist alongside the old naira notes.
Sowumi said it was a deliberate policy by the government to assuage the suffering of the poor masses, disclosing that the policy has made under better the workings of electronic transactions.
The CBN Governor has disclosed that fifteen Managing Directors of commercial banks would be detailed to work on practicable methods that would ensure effective distribution of the old two hundred naira notes across the country in order to cushion the effects of the monetary policy.
