5th September, 2012
Constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay, former Governor of Kaduna State, Balarabe Musa, Prelate Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr. Ola Makinde and others have slammed President Goodluck Jonathan and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi over the controversial introduction of N5,000 note.
Jonathan yesterday endorsed the introduction of the N5, 000 note and asked the CBN to go ahead with the implementation despite outcry by the majority of Nigerians on the negative effect of the planned launch of the new currency early next year will have on the economy.
Speaking with P.M.NEWS this morning, Sagay slammed the president for taking unilateral decision to go ahead with the introduction of the new note, saying that the opinion of the people should be taken into consideration at all times.
“My view is that any political office holder should listen to the people. Going by public opinion, over 90 percent go against the introduction of the new note. It is unpopular. If I were the president, I will not impose this on the people.
“This is unwise of the president. There is an element of dictatorship in it by forcing the new note on the people,” he said.
Speaking, Musa condemned the move by the president and the CBN governor to go ahead with the new note despite public outcry against it, saying the action show that the president is insensitive to the plight of the people. He urged Nigerians to go to court to challenge it.
Also, Makinde lambasted the president and Sanusi for their anti-people policies, saying that this is unbecoming of the president and his cronies.
“Jonathan should please listen to the poor masses rather than the rich. They are trying to kill the middlemen in this country. The rich are more comfortable with this and he should listen to the people. People have no facilities to carry coins. He should listen to the voice of the poor masses,” he stated.
Activist, Bamidele Aturu said it’s clear that the president and the CBN governor were working against the people despite opposition to the new currency.
“This shows the government does not listen to Nigerians. We expect the president to call the CBN to order. This policy will cause hyper-inflation and many people will lose their jobs. All options, such as court action and others should be employed,” he stated.
National President, Campaign for Democracy, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin said it was sad that the Nigerian government does not listen to the voice of the people, lamenting that N40.3 billion would be wasted on printing the currency.
According to her, the policy has defeated the so-called cashless policy of the CBN. She said the whole idea is deceptive, stressing that there are lots of things to attend to than printing new notes.
“We have an anti-people government that is ready to do the will of a few cabal. We reject this policy that will impoverish us; Nigerians should rise against it,” she stated.
President, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, Comrade Debo Adeniran, urged Nigerians to pile pressure on the National Assembly to call the president to order and that people should protest against the policy if the government refuses to back out.
Barrister Chris Akiri decried the insensitivity of the government in trying to force the new policy on the people, saying it was undemocratic.
“In the opinion of the people, over 80 percent are not in support of the introduction of a new currency, for the president to adopt it, it is not proper. The opinion of the people should be key,” he added.
—Kazeem Ugbodaga