‘We Are Not Among Those Opposed To Naira Re-design’

Even with the challenges associated with the Naira re-design policy, there are Nigerians still on the side of its continued implementation by government

They are thus disassociating themselves with anything related to opposing the policy.

An example is Bayelsa ‘state, which has come forward to state that it was never opposed to the Naira redesign policy.

The Bayelsa State government made this clear in a statement issued in Yenagoa.

It has particularly demanded an apology from a group of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) under the aegis of the Civil Society Organisations Central Coordinating Council which it said created an alternative impression.

The statement which was signed by the Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy.

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Mr Ayibaina Duba stated amongst others, that the CSOs through its member, Gabriel Ojemena, falsely alleged at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday that Governor Douye Diri was among a group of 10 governors opposing President Muhammadu Buhari on the Naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

He asserted: “For the avoidance of doubts, Governor Diri is not opposed to the Naira re-design policy of the CBN or the Federal Government. What he is opposed to is the hardship the implementation of the policy has visited on Nigerians.

“When he spoke publicly for the first time about the policy a week ago, it was at a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Kaduna South senatorial campaign launch at Zonkwa in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State. His comments in support of the policy were unflattering and unambiguous,” Duba said

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“We have to reset this country. The way the country is going is not about religion and ethnicity. It is about a few people that have taken the wealth of this country to themselves.

“The government is particularly dismayed that CSOs that should be better informed rather yielded themselves as agent-provocateur to misinform Nigerians.

“The government urges the CSOs to go study the papers that some states filed at the Supreme Court on the new notes suit instead of spreading falsehood.

“While we are not in support of the common man suffering as a result of the sudden CBN policy, that policy will change not only our currency but our attitude towards everything as leaders.

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“While we plead with the CBN to ensure that our people do not suffer, the other side, those of them who have bullion vans, who are prepared to buy over the presidency, the CBN policy is Holy Ghost fire on them. That is why they are shouting. Why are they shouting as if it affects them more than us?

“All the CBN is saying is that anybody who does not earn money should not have money in bullion vans to go and buy over our voters. That is all the CBN has said and we support that policy. However, make the money available to those who have earned it through their farms, trading and their legitimate business. That is all we are saying.”