The Presidential Campaign Council of the decision All Progressive Congress (APC) has blasted Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidatethrough the sudden switch condemning the naira redesign policy of the CBN
Atiku, who had previously supported the policy when the CBN was newly introduced, however, took a new position there in a post on his Facebook page, saying the policy has inflicted untold hardship on Nigerians.
Two PDP governors – Duoye Diri from Bayelsa and Godwin Obaseki from Edo State – supported the policy, although their counterparts in Sokoto State – Governor Aminu Tambuwal, have expressed their displeasure with the policy and its disastrous consequences for ordinary Nigerians.
The former vice president in the post has called on the CBN to, as a matter of urgency, allow commercial banks to join in the collection of deposits of N500 and N1000 old notes.
He said that new currency notes should be made available in sufficient quantity to ease the suffering of the people.
He assured that “when we come to power with the mandate of your vote, the PDP administration will not allow Nigerians who are legally earning money to lose one kobo of Yen.
“You can take that promise to the bank because the goal is to create prosperity and not abuse the people.”
The latest position of the PDP candidate in the February 25 presidential election is in stark contrast to his previous comments in support of the policy.
The APC campaign council in a statement on Friday said Atiku has made treacherous positions and changes since the current currency crisis started.
“In line with the well-documented inconsistencies and unreliability, Atiku has advanced several contradictory positions, in the futile hope of gaining political advantage from the crisis,” the statement said.
A statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, the director of media and publicity of the campaign council, noted that “My heart and the party are hopeless at first saying the CBN policy to high heaven when they initially thought it was a policy deliberately designed to prevent Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from so. the next elected president of Nigeria.”
“I call on President Muhammadu Buhari and the CBN Governor to ensure the strict implementation of the policy and the January 31 deadline because, in the party’s and party’s shortcomings and miscalculations, Tinubu is the main target.”
The statement noted that Atiku’s position blew up in his face when the unintended consequences of CBN’s policies were fully realized to the detriment of all citizens.
“My heart has given up and I am trying to get credit by asking the CBN to ‘slightly shift’ the end date of January 31, 2023.
“CBN and FG that Atiku and his party have suddenly become cheerleaders listen to all the voices of reason and change the deadline for currency exchange to February 10.”
On February 1, Atiku took another public position, asking the CBN not to change the deadline again
“There will be no further postponement of the new Naira regime after the expiry of February 10. Voters are trying to push the CBN to extend it until after the election when they will get a bad plan. The CBN and the Presidency must be firm. The benefits of the new Naira policy are greater than the taste the inconvenience we are experiencing”, he wrote in a widely circulated statement.
The February 10 deadline also proved insufficient for the currency swap despite the CBN and Mr. Buhari insisting on the deadline.
Some APC governors challenged the implementation of the policy at the Supreme Court and obtained an interim order for the CBN to allow the old N200, N500 and N1,000 notes to remain legal tender with the new notes.
Amidst the widespread misery and currency shortage caused by the Naira exchange policy for Nigerians with violent protests erupting in some parts of the country, the APC campaign council said: “Atiku’s position has once again proved to be miscalculated and clearly anti-people .”
ALSO READ: Naira Redesign: APC backs governor against Buhari, Emefiele
“But just five days away from the presidential election, Atiku wants to capture the mood of the country with his latest fake empathy. He is now asking the CBN to allow Nigerians to deposit their old N500 and N1000 notes in commercial banks, after thousands of desperate Nigerians jammed CBN offices in Lagos and other places, hoping to deposit old currency and get new notes.
“Mostly bad times for poor and unfortunate Nigerians because of lack of currency has become the norm. The chameleon politicians forgot that they once represented the sufferings of our poor people,” the statement said.
The campaign council said it recognized Atiku’s desire to become President and like “chameleons, this unprincipled and unstable politician will change his position on any issue if he thinks it will help his continued ambition.”
The statement advised Nigerians to run away from Atiku, saying people like the PDP candidate who lacks conviction and strength of character cannot provide the kind of leadership the country needs.
The campaign council said Nigeria needs a consistent and steadfast leader who will stand firm and upright when it is convenient and when it is not.
“Asiwaju Tinubu is that kind of leader and he has shown that he is on basic principles on the current crisis. He has also come up with a six point solution to get the country out of the current morass,” the statement said.
Support journalism integrity and credibility PREMIUM TIMES
Good journalism costs a lot of money. But only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, responsible democracy, and transparent government.
For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask that you consider making a modest contribution to this noble effort.
By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you help keep journalism relevant and ensure it remains free and available to all.
contribute
AD TEXT: Call Willie – +2348098788999
