President Muhammadu Buhari has been cautioned by the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) that the breakdown of law and order could result from his continued silence and defiance of the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the use of the old naira notes.
As he concurred with the governors of Kaduna, Kogi, and Zamfara states who sued the Federal Government over the policy, ACF Secretary-General Murtala Aliyu made this known.
According to Aliyu, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) current strategy raises questions about the respect for the civil liberties and rights of Nigerians with regard to their freedom to spend lawfully obtained money as they please.
He added that the president should honor the Constitution by following the ruling of the supreme court because he took an oath to uphold it.
“Whatever the CBN or anybody else says about the benefits of the policy, which are undoubtedly numerous, is of little consolation once the highest court in the nation has ruled that it is, or, at least, the manner in which it is implemented, in violation of the law,” he argued.
“Ten days is long enough time for the government to find its way towards complying with a court order which is central to the achievement of peace, order and good governance in the country.
“President Buhari is under oath to defend the constitution of Nigeria. As his long term supporters, it will be remiss of us if we fail to warn that the much touted benefits of the Naira redesign can never justify the damage to his credentials as a democrat and a stickler for the rule of law.
“This is quite a part from the real possibility of the crisis morphing into a serious social disorder leading to the possible breakdown of law and order throughout Nigeria.”
“We do not believe nor can we advise him to pay such a heavy price on account of a policy whose immediate goals are not entirely clear to a majority of Nigerians,” Aliyu added.
Yet he bemoaned the large crowds and protracted lines that had gathered outside of bank branches and ATMs all around the nation “as people fight to receive the new currency that has remained exceedingly limited and has sparked riots and other forms of civil unrest.”
