While congratulating the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN for the ten-day extension for the new currency swap, PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar asked the bank not to accept requests for additional extensions.
Atiku likewise pleaded on the Federal Government and the bank to resist being intimidated by those he referred to as having “sinister motives.”
This was said by the PDP candidate in a statement released by his campaign office on Wednesday in Abuja.
He also encouraged the CBN to reconsider the steps it has put in place to ensure the smooth circulation of the new naira notes right away in order to lessen the hardship of regular citizens around the nation, particularly rural residents who depend on cash for their daily transactions.
However, Atiku cautioned that after February 10 no more extensions should be considered in order to avoid undermining the motivation behind starting the currency overhaul.
“The extra ten days will allow our citizens in the countryside and regular citizens all around the nation to deposit the naira they now have in their possession.
Additionally, the CBN will be able to spread the new currency notes throughout banks so that citizens can easily get them.
“Within the next 10 days, I implore the CBN to take steps to ease the difficulties that people are having exchanging their old naira notes for new ones and increasing the number of fresh notes in circulation.
“The CBN may need to think about producing more currency notes to end the existing shortage among common people, particularly rural residents who depend on them for everyday transactions.
“The CBN may have to examine this alternative, as the amount these individuals need is not very large, if it believes that its officials and banks must be open on the weekend in order to serve the needs of the common people and rural residents.
The most important factor in this situation is making sure that the new currency circulates and is evenly dispersed to locations where people can easily get them.
“Every good policy must be focused on the needs of the people and must not cause them avoidable problems.
“However, the CBN should be cautious of the elite, whose motivation for demanding more delays in the expiration date for the old naira notes is diabolical and far from humanitarian.
I wholeheartedly agree that we should move toward a cashless society and reduce the quantity of currency in circulation.
“Every patriotic Nigerian should support the CBN on this since the cashless policy and lowering the amount of cash in circulation have many benefits. By doing so, we can lessen the flow of illicit money into our economy.
“It will aid in the fight against terrorism funding and stop the flow of drug money into our economy. It will support our effort to combat corruption.
More importantly, a cashless society will support the expansion and preservation of our democracy. The people yelling against the cashless policy and naira redesign are those who have developed numerous methods of buying votes in the upcoming elections, using money to corrupt the electoral system, as well as destroying the idea of one man, one vote and the objective of a credible, peaceful, free, and fair poll.
Atiku continued, “The anti-democratic elements who are passing themselves off as Democrats are the ones banding together against the CBN because to the currency revamping and the cashless regime it aims to enthrone.
They have been plotting and pushing against the policy day and night. Their latest strategy is to advocate for a second extension of the deadline for the currency shift.
I implore the CBN and the government to disregard their misbehavior. The CBN must resist the pressure that is being applied.
“After the deadline of February 10 has passed, the new naira regime should not be delayed again.
The vote-riggers want to force the CBN to delay their actions until after the election, when they will have succeeded in their terrible plans.
“The CBN and the Presidency must maintain their resolve. The benefits of the new naira policy outweigh the minor drawbacks by a wide margin.
“This is a measure that the nation will ultimately benefit from. We shouldn’t let those egotistical, localists, and those with limited perspectives ruin it.
