Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu says the federal government’s naira redesign policy has negatively affected the rating of the Congress of all progressives (APC) with voters ahead of the general elections.
Mr. Akeredolu spoke in Akure on Wednesday while hosting the APC youth wing headed by Seyi Tinubu, son of the APC presidential candidate.
The governor urged President Muhammadu Buhari to order Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele to reverse the controversial policy immediately.
He said new and old naira notes should be allowed to coexist, lamenting that despite an existing order from the Supreme Court, old notes appear to have ceased to be legal tender in the country.
Akeredolu said the policy was ill-timed, adding that, made worse by fuel shortages, APC’s rating had been lowered because of the situation.
“We have a problem that we face in this country today. Our rating as a party is not so favourable,” he said.
“Let’s not fool ourselves. Is it now that we will have this financial policy?
“How? Fuel and all? Things are not easy. This policy is not right at the moment. It should be the other way around. Book it and tell CBN we are reversing it. Let the old and new notes coexist.
“Okada, taxis, banks will no longer accept old bills. There is a court order and everyone behaves as if there is no court order. We have said that this man (CBN Governor) should be removed when he ran for president.
“The man is not fit for that position. A man who tried to be president will frustrate us right now.”
Mr. Akeredolu praised Seyi Tinubu and his team for the rigorous campaign they undertook for APC’s success.
While thanking the party’s youth for their tireless efforts, the governor said the youth will determine the outcome of the presidential election.
“Your demographics show that you occupy a higher percentage. You are the ones who will speak for yourself,” she said.
Mr. Akeredolu explained that the choice of Mr. Tinubu as APC’s candidate was based on his competence and track record.
“We did not hesitate when we said that the Presidency must come to the South. And when it came down south, we didn’t waver when we said competition and track record matter. Our choice of Asiwaju was based on an informed decision, not because we are from the same tribe,” Governor Akeredolu said.
In addition, he praised the party’s state youth leader, Ayo Wisdom, for running the party’s youth department effectively.
Earlier, Seyi Tinubu thanked the governor for his commitment to youth development and inclusion.
“We have come to seek your approval to add to what they have already done in the state in terms of the campaign. We will be in Ondo for the next two days to meet with the youth,” he said.
“Thank you for all you have been doing for Ondo and Nigeria. More especially for young Nigerians and young people in the state. With the work that he has done, we know that Asiwaju has no worries in Ondo State.”
The governor had previously joined his counterparts in Kaduna, Zamfara and Kogi in the High Court against CBN’s redesign policy.
Ondo State also filed a separate lawsuit against the Federal Government in the high court seeking the reversal of the policy.
The state government cited the hardships placed on residents and their inability to efficiently fund their ministries, agencies and departments as reasons why the policy should be scrapped.
Mr. Akeredolu’s comments also come in the context of repeated accusations by members of Mr. Tinubu’s presidential campaign committee that the policy was designed to ensure that their candidate would not win the upcoming presidential election.
Emefiele had argued that the policy was intended to reduce inflation, strengthen the naira, and generally improve the Nigerian economy despite teething problems.
He blamed the negative impact of the policy on alleged sabotage by some stakeholders in the nation’s financial ecosystem.