The governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, has said that the naira redesign policy introduced by President Muhammadu Buhari was part of a plot to scuttle the forthcoming general election and form an interim government.
Mr Ganduje stated this in an audio message aired on local radio stations in Kano, saying Mr Buhari’s “anti-democracy policies” would affect the electoral fortunes of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Mr Ganduje lamented that it was unfortunate that Mr Buhari was hellbent on redesigning the currency even to the detriment of his party.
He wondered why the president was working hard to destroy the party that brought him to power after three failed attempts.
“No doubt, we know the value and worth of a politician. That’s why if you look at the things going on now, you will feel like crying.
“This is someone who had contested many times and lost. We now formed a merger, and he won. But look at what he’s doing now. He is just after destroying the party that brought him to power. Otherwise, how do you explain the essence of this naira redesign policy?
“Have you weighed the implications this policy in an election period? What is the intention behind this for God’s sake?
“Why can’t he wait till after the election, or why didn’t he introduce it seven and a half years ago?
“So every politician will be suspicious of the motive behind the policy at this time,” Mr Ganduje lamented.
He said it was regrettable that the federal government is still adamant about enforcing the new monetary policy despite warnings from the World Bank and some world leaders.
“How can you allow the CBN governor, who isn’t a politician and lacks knowledge, to influence such a decision.
“As a leader, you allowed the banking sector to be in crisis. If not that our democracy is in shambles, who will allow such a thing to happen.
“So he (Buhari) doesn’t have answers to all these questions, and democracy doesn’t support such decisions. And that’s why we took the matter to court to express our misgivings because we see it as a plot to scuttle the forthcoming election and set up an interim government.
He said he had ordered the closure of supermarkets and banks that refused to accept the old notes, adding that the old N200, N500 and N0100 notes remain legal tender pending the determination of the suit filed before the Supreme Court by some governors
