Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, yesterday, supported President Muhammadu’s decision to approve the cash exchange policy.
Dogara maintained that the move was aimed at preventing vote buying ahead of next week’s scheduled general election.
The former Speaker asserted that the President has the sole constitutional power over currency matters adding that those who oppose the cash swap policy do so because they do not have the opportunity to circulate naira bought to buy votes.
However, he said he was not aware of or affected by the distress caused by the redesigned Naira and the swap policy but appealed to Nigerians to endure for a few weeks as a sacrifice for a free, fair and credible election.
He spoke in Kaltungo, Gombe state during a gathering of over 15,000 Christian youth under the Evangelical Churches Winning All (ECWA) International Youth Conference where he was awarded for his service to the youth, the church and humanity.
He said: “The president is right not to give in to the greed of the little people against the needs of the many. When the president is right to act according to what he knows and in the interest of the country, the traducers are small, unpatriotic, treacherous and irresponsible.
“Therefore, Mr. President deserves a thunderous round of applause. Whoever writes, history will be kind to Mr. President if he does not give up or give up on his determination to ensure a free, fair and credible democratic election, no matter the cost on February 25, 2023 as which INEC scheduled.
“I want to specifically commend President Buhari for his initiative to prevent vote buying in the upcoming general election. I am not aware or affected by the distress caused by the Naira redesign and swap policy but I want to plead with Nigerians to endure for a few weeks this is a sacrifice for free, fair and credible elections.
“This is the lesson of life: like the pain that hurts, it also hurts. But if we have to heal, we have to suffer. I urge all of us to trudge on in the hope that this pain is really the pain of our birth that we can endure for New Nigeria for birth.
“For those who criticize the president on the issue of time, I want to remind them in the words of Dr King Jnr that time is neutral and, “the time is always ready to do the right thing.”
“Let me end by calling on the CBN to ensure that the re-drafted notes are made available to our people, but even if the CBN fails to do so, my plea to all Nigerians is to suffer for a few more weeks so that our votes can be counted and for us to elect the right president – really worth it.
Dogara emphasized that Nigeria needs a President in the mold of the presidential candidate of the people’s democratic party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar who will hit the ground running from day one adding that it behooves Nigerians to guard against the foisting of a new person as President of the country.
He added: “Tell me if there is a candidate close to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar on his readiness to hit the ground running from day one. If you do not know him, let me attempt the impossible task of introducing him to you.
“HE Atiku Abubakar, the Wazirin of Adamawa is a statesman and a father in every word, Abba. He is a recognizable source who gives life to all around him.