C), APC Edo State Chairman, Col. David Imuse retd; flanked on the (L), the State Publicity Secretary, Peter Enoserogbe Uwadiae Igbinigie Esq, and (R), the State Scribe, Lawrence Orkah, and the State Women Leader
• Says naira redesign not Party’s policy but Emefiele’s CBN
By Kingsley Abavo, Benin
The leading opposition Party in Edo State; the All Progressives Congress (APC) has knocked the Governor Godwin Obaseki’s led administration for alleging its former National Chairman, Adams Oshiomole as mastermind of the violent protest in Benin-City on Wednesday.
The Party also lambasted Obaseki for joining the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele and the Federal Government as defendants; in the law suit filed against them by the Governors of Kogi, Kaduna, Zamfara at the Supreme Court, and now joined by other seven Governors; following negative fall out of the naira redesign, and swap.
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The APC held that Obaseki’s joining the law suit as co – respondent triggered the violent protest, against rejection of the old naira notes by traders and the banks, and scarcity of the new redesigned naira notes in Benin-City.
“There is no doubt that the public reaction followed the decision by Godwin Obaseki to join forces with the anti – people elements, opposing the Supreme Court ruling restraining the Federal Government from implementing the CBN’s February 10 deadline for the swapping of the old naira notes with the new ones.”
Hence, it was wrong to had alleged “Oshiomole who left his footprints on the sand of time in governance in the State. He could not have instigated protest to destroy his own legacies”, the Party stated.
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The APC in response to recent developments and Obaseki’s statement calling for the arrest of Oshiomole by the Police; made the assertion on Thursday, 16 February, 2023 while addressing the media in Benin.
“Edo people know that the frustrated faction of the PDP whose days are numbered in the State, is responsible for the protests.
“Matters were compounded when they learned of the Governor’s stance on the Supreme Court Case.”
The APC recalled that the Governor last year condemned the CBN naira redesign decision arguing as a “self acclaimed economist; the policy by the Federated Government has no basis.
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“This is purely political. There is nothing urgent in changing our currency today” the Governor was quoted to had argued.
The Party noting the Governor suddenly swallowed his vomit describing the CBN decision as the right one for the nation’s economy; had stated:
“It is the best thing for our banking system so the Edo State Government has no problem with the policy of the Federal Government to move our economy to a cashless one.
“It was this demonstration of confusion that the Governor translated to the litigation at the Supreme Court that infuriated many Edo people on Wednesday.
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“For us in the APC, the mob action on the Streets of the Edo State Capital, Wednesday is a reaction to Mr. Obaseki’s familiar path to perfidy, insensitivity and wickedness which is both anti – people and criminal.
“The very erroneous decision by Godwin Obaseki to align himself with the anti – people policy of the CBN amidst the plight and suffering of Edo people who are distraught; over their inability to get cash from the banks further infuriated our people.
“The action is typical of Mr. Obaseki as a trade mark policy for wasting Edo tax payers funds through litigation which over the years, has become the Governor’s conduit pipe for siphoning the dwindling resources of Edo people.”
The APC further held: “our position is that the peaceful protest by the banking public was probably hijacked by sponsored political thugs of the disabled Obaseki led – PDP administration in the State.”
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Stating the PDP is afraid of losing the Presidential election in Edo and nation wide, the Party alleged: “So it has orchestrated this mayhem of violent protest as a distraction.
“As we speak Obaseki has gathered several P.O.S operators who are his cronies and some bank officials to Government House with a directive that more monies be allotted to these operators for onward transmission to the SSG, for anticipated vote buying in the up coming general elections.
“By taking side with CBN on this anti – people policy, Obaseki has finally unmasked himself as the real enemy of Edo people.”
Responding to a question, the Party State Chairman, Col. David Imuse retd. said APC did not promise naira redesign in its manifestos to Nigerians.
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Hence the naira redesign and swap are Emefiele’s CBN policy targeted politically at some persons; but ended up frustrating Nigerians.
C), APC Edo State Chairman, Col. David Imuse retd; flanked on the (L), the State Publicity Secretary, Peter Enoserogbe Uwadiae Igbinigie Esq, and (R), the State Scribe, Lawrence Orkah, and the State Women Leader
