Hon. Jude Idimogu, a member of the Lagos House of Assembly representing Oshodi Isolo Constituency 2, has claimed that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele’s naira note swap policy was aimed at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Idimogi insisted that introducing a redesigned naira into the economy was the wrong time.
The lawmaker believes that the country should take a more gradual approach until the old notes are phased out of the system, rather than the drastic change that is causing untold hardships for the people.
Idimogi wondered why Emefiele was so concerned about the cash outside, adding that the CBN governor was pursuing a sinister goal with the policy.
He urged the CBN governor not to punish the masses in order to put politicians in a bind.
He said;
The so-called policy is targeted personally at Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with due respect to Emefiele this happen to be a wrong-time policy targeted at Asiwaju.
Nigeria is a cash-based economy, issue of cashless policy ought to be gradual, imagine the network is not even helping the situation, it is hanging, before bringing any policy the hundreds of millions of populations that will be affected ought to be a basis for concern.
It is an obnoxious policy, if Emefiele knows that the economy is in shambles, why the hurry with deadline, in other climes such policy are introduced gradually, the affected currency includes money at hand and the major part is in the banks.
If about 52 trillion is printed 90 percent revolves within the banking system, why be so concerned about the ones outside in people’s hands, if not for sinister motives?
Now people bring in the money they can’t get it off the counter, and lots of people are suffering, can one pay Danfo drivers and Keke Napep operators with transfers, can items in the market be paid for bit by bit with money transfers?
You cannot punish over 200 million population just to get back at the few politicians, what is the population of the politicians amongst the rest? Just close to 10 percent why put others into needless hardship?
Speaking further, the lawmaker commended the House of Reps and National Assembly for the pressure they were putting on the Apex bank to extend the deadline.
He also stated that it is unprecedented in Nigeria as the election period used to be a time when life seems a little eased for the commoners.
Nigeria has now become a Fuji House of Commotion, when the election is coming the government eases the economy, my President please have a rethink, he pleaded.
The lawmaker also called on power brokers within the APC to close ranks and stop desecrating the sanctity of the party.