Nigerians have continued to react to Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s decision that the old N500 and N1000 notes should stay as legal tender in Kaduna State despite President Muhammadu Buhari’s order.
Buhari asked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to extend the validity of old N200 notes until April 10 in a televised address on Thursday.
He further stated that for the next 60 days, all current old N1000 and N500 notes will be redeemed at the CBN and authorized places.
Governor El-Rufai, who had challenged the policy in court, ordered that the old N500 and N1000 notes be kept in circulation in Kaduna State until the Supreme Court rules otherwise.
He also accused the Central Bank Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, of plotting to postpone the general elections in order to allow an interim administration led by a former Army General, to take control.
According to Mr Eric Ekwere, Deputy National Director (Media), Atiku Support Group, and member of the PDP/Atiku Presidential Campaign Council, El-Rufai and other governors opposing the Naira redesign strategy are not fighting for disadvantaged Nigerians.
Ekwere chastised El-Rufai for not acting like a leader, emphasizing that the APC has been in disarray since 2015.
According to him, El-Rufai has failed to tell the public his main reason for fighting the policy.
“It is unfortunate that El-Rufai is not acting like a leader. This is a policy that Nigerians have accepted even if we are experiencing hardship. In the long term, it will benefit everybody
“You are complaining that this thing is affecting the vulnerable Nigerians, they have released N200, which is to the advantage of the vulnerable people. These people are not transacting N1000 in bulk and you are still complaining.
“This means that there is something hidden somewhere that you have failed to tell the public. You are inciting the public against the government,” he said.