Civil Society Passes Vote Of Confidence On President Buhari And CBN Governor

A group comprising of several Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria, has passed a vote of confidence on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

The group, known as the Civil Society Organisations Central Coordinating Council, CSOCCC, said the policy on naira redesign was a master stroke against corruption and vote buying.

It also said it has uncovered plot by ten Governors to make Nigeria ungovernable over new Naira policy.

In a Press Conference on the state of the nation, the CSOCCC said the policy was facing a syndicated attack from a group of Governors they termed the G10 Governors, who have vowed that the new Naira policy will not see the light of the day.

Speaking on behalf of the group, the National Convener, Mr. Obed Okwukwe, alleged that the 10 Govs are plotting to undermine President Buhari’s government new currency policy with instigated violence.

According to him, the governors are willing to go the extra mile including making the country ungovernable and undermining constitutional governance and bring the entire country to a halt all for their selfish reasons.

“Last week, we addressed Nigerians on behalf of the Nigerian civil society community. Among other things, we passed a Vote of confidence on the New Naira Policy and on both President Muhammadu Buhari and Central Bank Governor Mr. Godwin Emefiele.

“We also briefed the nation on the feelings of Nigerians on the New Naira policy, clearly stated our views and position on the Exparte orders of the Supreme Court and pointedly stated that it was mere subterfuge that the Governors who approached the Supreme Court deployed and the actions were not in any way guided by the love of their people,“.Mr. Okwukwe said.

The group says, since the implementation of the new Naira policy, Nigerians and indeed the system have started seeing the gains.

“Except for the hitches of the unavailability of cash particularly for small businesses, which is caused by sabotage from those who do not want the policy so they can continue with their illicit trade, other major indicators show that the impact of the policy on our economy is quite positive. Also on security the impact is being felt as kidnappers now know that there is no cash to pay for ransom. On our electoral process it is now obvious to Nigerians that it is only the vote buyers that are complaining,”.They said.

They pointed out that the CBN had announced that it deployed N300 billion in cash as the first tranche of cash it disbursed but the money was hijacked and did not trickle down to the people and the people who took hold of it from the Commercial banks have not brought it out to circulate.

“They are withholding the money using various means including deploying agents who use multiple ATM cards to withdraw the money, colluding with their banker agents to continue to trap the moneys in the banks and buying off cash from business places that ordinarily make huge cash transactions like petrol stations, supermarkets and departmental stores. This has made some of these businesses insist on only cash payment as the profit they make from the sales of the Naira covers for the loss of business from those who do not have the cash to pay”.

The Civil Society Group also said that it was amazing to note that the Governors behind the plot were the same Governors a couple of years ago, who took advantage of every opportunity to praise President Muhammadu Buhari to high heavens.

“However, obviously because the second tenure is coming to an end, these Governors now believe that the President is not deserving of their respect. That is quite hypocritical. It means all they were showing the President was sycophantic solidarity hence we must therefore remind them at this point in time that President Muhammadu Buhari is and still remains the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria until the 29th May, 2023 and not one day before.

“Unfortunately, these Governors have switched allegiance to a new godfather not minding that he is yet to win the Presidential election. They are willing to dare constitutional governance and do anything including creating anarchy just to enthrone him and achieve their narrow political ambitions.

“Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State as you all know has announced that once their candidate wins, they would cancel the new Naira policy.We therefore ask, how many legacies of the President Buhari administration will El-Rufai demand that the new government they intend to form cancel and revers? How many other anti-corruption policies of President Buhari will be reversed if Governor El-rufai and co attain this power which they so desperately seek? Maybe the Whistleblower policy of the President will go alongside some other anti-corruption legislations.Gentlemen, our intelligence shows there will be intensified cash-scarcity drama across the geopolitical zones. People will pretend to collapse, people will go naked. there will be pre-arranged fights and many other things to press home their demands. Many people have been activated to make this happen.

“Groups have also been mobilized to daily report to at various bank ATM locations to always stand around and help create the impression and make it look like there are crowds at the banks who are not being attended to. Scenes will be created and this is expected to put more pressure on the system and lead to the abandonment or reversal of the policy,” they ewarned.

They noted that it must be noted that this policy has succeeded in reducing the financial recklessness, money laundering and vote buying capacities of these governors hence the ferocious fight they are giving the policy.

“The new Naira policy is not aimed at impoverishing the people neither is it aimed at making the people suffer more hardship. It was a beautifully thought out policy with perfect timing to checkmate the use of cash to subvert the sovereignty of the people, immediately stop counterfeiting, strengthen the Naira, checkmate ransom taking, banditry and money laundering.

“These are the reasons why Nigerians support this policy.For us in the civil society, this policy has come to stay. There is no going back. This is the best time for it to be implemented, just before elections. It is a master stroke and we commend the CBN and President Muhammadu Buhari for the outstanding courage to initiate this policy”. They stressed.

While urging heads of all security agencies to keep an eye on the activities in the various state government houses and the banking halls, it called on Governors Nair El-Rufai, Bello Matawalle, Hope Uzodimma, Abdullahi Ganduje, Yahaya Bello, Rotimi Akeredolu, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Nyesom Wike, Douye Diri and Biodun Oyebanji, to please show Mr. President some respect as the policy would not fail and Nigeria would be better for it.

Confidence Okwuchi