A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole stated that President Muhammadu Buhari was deceived into endorsing the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) currency redesign program (CBN).
Oshiomhole, a senatorial candidate for the APC, yesterday night on a political program on Channels Television, alleged that the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, used the president’s “zero tolerance for corruption” policy to persuade him to support the policy.
In response to Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-remarks Rufai’s about the APC facing opposition in the upcoming general elections, Oshiomhole stated that the policy was intended to shorten the general election scheduled for February and March 2023.
He said: “CBN’s naira redesign policy is senseless… CBN deceived Buhari and the intention behind it was to stop the elections.
“Having worked as a chairman [of APC] which enabled me to work directly with the president, I know the trick that the CBN played.
“We have a president who has told the world that if Nigeria does not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria. So, I can guess that in obtaining the approval that the president said he gave, I believe the CBN deceived the president by amplifying the need to have a corruption-free electioneering as if election is the only project which the president has the responsibility for.
“I am shocked that the CBN could pursue this senseless policy. It is not about the idea of changing currency, this governor has broken no new ground because we have changed currency before and I dare him to check the records.
“When Gen Buhari changed the colours of the naira when he did in his first coming as the military head of state, he did not forbid the banks from paying people in new notes, he did not impose restriction as to how much you can withdraw provided it is your lawful money.
“To assume that every Nigerian is corrupt…and that this policy is meant to check corruption, the CBN is not part of institutions charged with the responsibility of ensuring free, fair and credible election.”
