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United Kingdom Denies Ekweremadu’s Daughter, Sonia, Kidney Transplant – Chidoka

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Sonia Ekweremadu and Osita Chidoka

By Adesina Soyooye

A former Minister for Aviation, Mr Osita Chidoka, has made a serious allegation against the authorities of the United Kingdom.

Chidoka alleged on Thursday, that the UK has inexplicably, refused to allow Sonia, 25 year old daughter of former Nigeria’s Deputy Senate President, Dr Ike Ekweremadu, to have a kidney transplant in London.

Sonia suffers from a rare kind of kidney disease for which she undergoes dialysis three times in a week. She lives in London.

An attempt by her parents, Dr Ike and Dr Mrs Beatrice Ekweremadu, to get her a donor landed them in trouble for which they, Sonia and a Dr Obinna Obeta are being prosecuted in that country for alleged paying and sponsoring a 21- year old trader from Nigeria to the United Kingdom, for the sole purpose of harvesting one of his kidneys to take care of Sonia’s ill-health. They alleged that the young man was unaware of the arrangement, was promised about seven thousand British Pounds, a chance to live in the UK, and had been passed off as Sonia’s cousin. The Ekweremadus and Dr Obeta deny the allegations.

Senator Ekweremadu and his wife were arrested in June 2022, at the Heathrow Airport, London, over the allegations. They were thrown into jail, and hauled before a Magistrate Court on Criminal charges.

While Mrs Ekweremadu was granted bail about two months later, the Court  refused to grant bail to Ekweremadu and Dr Obeta. They describe  Ekweremadu as a flight risk inspite of written, oral and  evidential assurances, even from the Nigerian High Commission in London.

Sonia was not detained, but is facing trial.

But on Thursday, 9th February, 2023, Chidoka raised an alarm that even though there are a number of willing kidney donors to Sonia, Britain has denied her the right to have the transplant. He wondered why, and called upon the Nigerian Government to intervene in order to save the life of the young lady.

He slammed the UK Government for disallowing Sonia a chance to live.

Chidoka: “On Monday, I was at the London Criminal court to observe the trial of Ike, Beatrice, and Sonia Ekweremadu.

Some weeks before, I had visited him at Wandsworth Prison. He was in good spirits. Ike is a family friend, a close ally, and an associate. My prayers, thoughts, and good wishes are with them at this time.

“We have known each other for the past 30 years when he was a grad student and part-time lecturer at the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus. His subsequent rise from Local Government Chairman to Deputy Senate President is a story for another day.

“What I find distressing is the refusal of the UK authorities to allow Sonia to get a kidney transplant despite a deluge of donors. I think the Nigerian government and we the citizens must call on the UK authorities to allow her to get a kidney transplant in furtherance of her fundamental right to life.

“No matter the outcome of the case, Sonia deserves a chance to live.”

“I appeal to the Minister of Foreign Affairs to please intervene in this serious issue of a possible violation of her right to life by the UK government.

“An intervention will save Sonia’s life and will be in line with global examples of countries intervening on behalf of their citizens.

“I am impressed the Nigerian High Commission has been, and still is present as an observer at the trial.

“As for the current travails of the Ekweremadu family, I can only say: this too, shall pass.”

The criminal trial continues.

Why It Is Madness To Contest Under APC

By
The Source
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0

By Bode George

Without mincing words or trying to raise an alarm, the global golden rule called ‘order’ – a legal and constitutional process of conformity with law or decorum – seems to have taken a flight from Nigeria’s political, economic and social lives.

Due to this anomaly, which is a deviation from regulation or what is regarded as normal, there seems to be a graveyard silence while Nigeria is bedeviled on all fronts.

Something strange or unusual happens in the polity every day, leading to socio-economic turmoil permeating our entire landscape.

It is grieving to see Nigeria slowly sliding into a state of perpetual hopelessness.

In all honesty, I cannot decipher the logic of quietness against the cliff edge which the APC government has plunged the Nigerian state into, where there seems to be no opposing views, calling the ruling government to stop and rethink.

Our party, the PDP, and others, such as the Labour Party, SDP, NNPP, seem to have concurred to the present shenanigan.

I wonder, what hate, what evil, what madness will propel anyone of sane mind to plunge Nigeria into the present state of hopelessness, annihilation and abject suffering of the citizenry.

At the same time, I see it as absolute lunacy for anybody to campaign for APC or to contest on the platform of APC, due to the state of formlessness the ruling party has thrown Nigeria into.

It puzzles rationality. It benumbs our senses as Nigerians wake up every day to daily agonies of perennial fuel scarcity, tossed at us by the NNPC and the agony of non-availability of cash, occasioned by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through its Naira rebranding.

Where is the Presidential candidate of our party, the PDP, Atiku Abubakar? Where is Iyorchia Ayu, the National Chairman. How come the voice of the DG, Campaign Council of the PDP is drowned in perpetual silence against the atrocities of the APC government with the presidential election just a few days away?

Why have they allowed their voices to be drowned in conspiratorial silence?

Where are the opposition political parties? What does the graveyard silence portend for Nigerians? It seems to mean that Nigerians’ right to good has been consigned to the dustbin by the political class.

Governments are elected to guarantee the pursuit of happiness , to ensure the protection of personal liberties, to create an atmosphere where all citizens can carry out their economic livelihoods without being subjected to oppression or being savaged by the lawlessness of incendiary actors.

The center appears overwhelmed, stunned, halted, stalled, puzzled about grappling with the Nigerian challenges.

I believe the various state actors can do better.

Managers of our economy should not take Nigerians for granted by churning out retrogressive economic policies.

We should rather strive to review our focus and our ultimate horizon . Nigeria must withdraw from the destructive brink.

Sadly enough, it is on record that Nigeria has continued to toy with the issue of power supply which is very germane to the development of any economy, particularly, a developing economy like ours.

Presently, our country loses an estimated $29 billion in accruable revenue every year due to epileptic power. This is not sustainable. Power is the very lifeblood of all industrial revolution. It is the fuel of all economic development.

A nation without efficient power supply cannot rise into the bright dawn of the digital civilisation. It is stuck forever in the bleak dark side of economic underdevelopment and teeters inevitably on economic ruination.

Indeed, something must give to spur a Nigerian rebirth and renewal, lest we become the permanent invalid African giant.

To change course, to redefine our path, we must cultivate the essential ingredients of meritocracy as the critical building blocks of a modern society . Wherever young, vibrant, intelligent minds are given a pride of place to steer the destinies of their nations, such societies invariably widen the opportunities for competitive growth, encourage a healthy contest of ideas and strengthen their developmental advantages.

Sparing a thought for the chaotic cash crunch imbroglio which has brought the nation to its knees with nobody spared of the suffering being experienced, I make bold to say that the decision of the manager of our financial system, the CBN, to redesign the Naira, has only pushed the country further into dire straits. Our national economy has sunk deeper into the abyss, and the people are being made to become refugees in their own country with hunger ravaging every home. The policy on the currency should not have been contemplated in the way it was implemented.

It is only pathetic for the CBN to come up with such policy, despite its good intentions because the present ugly state of our everyday life of epileptic power supply, high rate youth unemployment and sundry social challenges renders all the positive intentions of the policy worthless. The citizenry are only worse for the policy, toiling in vain every day for the non-availability of the new notes.

The tragic comedy of the financial crisis is the internal exchange rate racket going on in all the states.

For you to get Naira cash across the counter and from POS operators, there is an ‘exchange rate’ (charges) depending on the financial smartness of the operators.

Nigerians now pay between 10% and 25% for them to get their hard-earned Naira cash. Nigeria must be the only country in the world where you pay ‘officially’ a percentage in local currency for you to get your money in banks.

It is important to escalate this point that Nigerians cannot be forced to move away from a cash-based economy to a complete cashless regime overnight like the CBN wants to implement, with our present archaic state of technology like the internet which is still in its nascent and epileptic state and the perennial fuel supply situation which has also thrown the country into turmoil .

The current hitch in the supply of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) across the country is scandalous.

As Africa’s largest crude oil producer, many months of fuel scarcity, especially during the Christmas and New Year festivities, reflects the dysfunction in Nigeria’s public administration and the economy.

This is not new, as petrol shortages have been recurring for over three decades. Scarcity of fuel had resurfaced several months ago, before the new year celebrations and has defied all logic and solutions. The government and its agencies are clueless, making conflicting statements and embarking on uncoordinated actions.

Laughably, the directive by the State Security Service to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, Depot and Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria and other stakeholders to resolve the current fuel crisis has not yielded any positive result, other than a worsening scenario of the crisis, pushing the country more to the brink of collapse.

This is the time for Nigerians to open their eyes and minds by voting for a competent and experienced person to take us to the promise land.

We cannot afford to make mistakes this time around.

Any move short of this is a recipe for complete chaos.

A word is enough for the wise.

Chief George, CON, a PDP Chieftain, is the Atona Oodua of Yorubaland

We’ll Revolutionise Governance, Says Obi

By
The Source
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Fresh from the huge boost he got earlier on Thursday with the endorsement of the Ijaw nation, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, on Thursday took his campaign to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), declaring to the people that he and his running mate, Yusuf Datti-Ahmed are just tools that the forthcoming election is indeed their own.

Obi who had charged the nation’s capital with his Wednesday’s strategic visits to some markets in Abuja and a road show this morning, making the rally a carnival-like show, told the jubilant crowd that a revolution is coming if the people vote for him and Datti into office on February 25th.

Addressing the people at the Old parade ground, Area 10, Garki, Obi assured them that the LP government is going to do things differently and promised to revolutionize the country if the party wins this year’s presidential election.

His words: “Nigeria in the past 20 years have produced insecurity; Nigeria in the past 20 years have produced poverty and unemployment.

“We are offering you security and prosperity. We are going to fight insecurity. Criminals are no longer formidable unless there is no leadership,”

He said his government will start by revolutionalizing Nigeria as a country and move to provide good things of life.

“There will be a food revolution. We are going to make food abundant so that Nigerians will have no reason to be hungry again.

“We will empower women and youths. We will unite Nigeria. In the next five years, you will be proud to be a Nigerian and nobody will treat you based on where you come from,” he said.

The LP candidate noted that in 2012, unemployment was 16 percent, but now it is 65 percent.

“We will employ our youths. Nigeria will be a great nation again. Join us to build a new Nigeria. You are the ones contesting this election through us, we are only representing you,” Obi said.

“Labour Party is producing what has never happened before. For the first time, the presidential candidate and the running mate, and the National Chairman were born after independence.

“This election will be by competence. We are competent people. We are compassionate people. Our commitment is total, hold us responsible for a new Nigeria.

“We will stop stealing. They want to buy your votes. If they give you money, collect it, it is your money, collect and vote for us,” he added.

The vice presidential candidate Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, described Obi as a shining star, noting that for eight years as Anambra State governor, he borrowed no money.

Dr. Ahmed stated that after nine years, Obi is coming back, not for Anambra but for Nigeria.

“Anybody who tells you the security situation in the country has improved does not mean well for Nigeria.

“Peter Obi will unite Nigeria. We are coming to do things differently. Peter Obi is going to work for Nigeria,” he assured.

2023: Obi Gets Huge Boost From Ijawland

By
The Source
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Peter Obi and Ijaw

Sixteen Days before the all-important 2023 Presidential election in Nigeria, the  Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi on Thursday got a huge boost to his aspiration with an endorsement from the umbrella body of the Ijaw people known as Ijaw National Congress, INC.

The landmark endorsement was carried out at the Ijaw House, Yenaoga, Bayelsa State, on Thursday morning during an interactive session with the apex Ijaw socio-cultural body.

The Ijaw, who are spread from Sierra Leone to Gabon, dominate Bayelsa State, have sizeable populations in Delta, Rivers, and Ondo States, and are spread around the coast of Nigeria. They have a population strength of about 4 million, which could be about 2% of the Nigerian population of 200 million plus.

The endorsement by the INC is a follow-up to the one done by Southern Ethnic Nationalities comprising, the Yoruba apex group, the Afenifere, Pan Niger Delta Forum PANDEF, the Umbrella body of the Igbos, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the Middle Belt Forum announced in Abuja last week.

The LP Presidential flag bearer during interaction told the Ijaw National Congress that he is seeking the people’s mandate to fill the vacuum created in our polity by successive leadership failure.

He told the people that a new Nigeria is possible and it has to be based on justice and equity where the people’s resources should be used to develop their areas.

The former Anambra state Governor assured the Ijaw that he and his Vice are determined to create a new Nigeria where the people will live in peace secured and in harmony.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had led the high profile Nigerians that includes first Republic Minister of Information Edwin Clark, and renowned jurist Afe Babalola among others to endorse the LP Presidential candidate who is enjoying the massive support of Nigerian women and youths.

Obi Demands Apology From INEC Over Post

By
The Source
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Peter Obi

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi, has demanded an apology from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for liking a post which was critical of him.

In a release, the Obi-Datti Media Office slammed INEC for liking the anti-Obi  Post and sought for an  explanation.

It berated  INEC for liking a tweet that tended to deride the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party.

Part of the statement, signed by its head of Media, Diran Onafide reads:

“It’s not a hidden fact that in morality and law the election umpire, INEC should not only be neutral but must strive to prevent anything real or imagined to suggest otherwise.

“Obi-Datti Media takes serious exception to INEC liking a post by a partisan person who has chosen a candidate to support.

“We expect the Commission to explain to the concerned public who are looking up to them to be above board why they had to show such a level of obvious bias.

Obi-Datti Media office notes that even if somebody in the Commission’s office wants to be biased, the law has denied them that because of the moral standards being expected of them.

We expect INEC to come clean on this issue as it’s capable of eroding public confidence in the Commission to conduct a free, fair, and transparent election. INEC should publicly apologize to the high-flying LP Presidential standard bearer.”

INEC has launched an investigation to reveal the circumstances behind the “like” comment with a view to expose the culprit.

May 29 Hand Over Date: President Buhari Sets Up Transition Committee; Ready To Go!

By
Ayodele Oni
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President Buhari of Nigeria

By Ayodele Oni

To assure Nigerians of his commitment to May 29 handover date, President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved the composition of a Presidential Transition Council to facilitate the exit process.

Part of the functions of the Council will be to manage the 2023 transition programme of handing over power to the winner of the February 25 presidential election.

The president signed an executive order number 14, 2023 to that effect.

The Transition Council will be inaugurated by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on Tuesday 14th February, in Abuja.

A key feature of the Presidential Executive Order No. 14 of 2023 is the institutionalization of a legal framework that would enable a seamless transition of power from one Presidential Administration to another, which is part of President Buhari’s legacy.

The Transition Council chairman is the secretary to the government, Boss Mustapaha with other members of the Committee in place.

The list of members is as follows :

  1. Secretary to the Government of the Federation – Chairman
  2. Head of the Civil Service of the Federation

iii. Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice

  1. Permanent Secretaries from the following Ministries and Offices:
  2. Defence
  3. Interior
  4. Finance, Budget and National Planning
  5. Foreign Affairs
  6. Information and Culture
  7. Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA)
  8. Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs
  9. Cabinet Affairs Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF)
  10. General Services Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF)
  11. Economic and Political Affairs Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF)
  12. State House
  13. National Security Adviser
  14. Chief of Defence Staff

vii. Inspector-General of Police

viii. Director General, National Intelligence Agency

  1. Director General, State Security Services
  2. Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria; and
  3. Two representatives, to be nominated by the President elect.

From the executive order, the first major function of winner of February 25 presidential election will be to nominate two representatives yo join the transition committee.

How Senator Nwaoboshi Was Picked From Hospital And Sent To Prison Over N805 Million Fraud

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Senator Peter Nwaoboshi

By Akinwale Kasali

Senator Peter Nwaoboshi representing Delta North Senatorial District at the Senate who has been on the run after he was convicted and sentenced to seven years imprisonment over seven months for N805 million has been arrested and remanded at the Ikoyi Custodial Center to commence his prison term.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, made this disclosure in a statement signed by its Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren.  He said the lawmaker was intercepted by EFCC operatives at a hospital in Lagos on Monday, February 6, 2023.

The Appellate Court, on July 1, 2022, sentenced Nwaoboshi to prison after it convicted him of two counts of money laundering.

It also ordered the winding up of his two firms, Golden Touch Construction Project Ltd, and Suiming Electrical Ltd, under Section 22 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2021, and their properties forfeited to the Federal Government.

Wilson said, “But the Lawmaker, who was not present in court at the time of the ruling, went underground and refused to present himself to the Nigerian Correctional Service.

“Instead, he proceeded to the Supreme Court, praying the apex court to not only set aside the judgment of the appeal court but grant him bail, pending the determination of his appeal.”

But in a unanimous decision on January 27, 2023, the apex court dismissed the application.

In the lead judgment read by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the apex court wondered why Nwaoboshi, who refused to submit himself to the law, would seek the indulgence of the law.

Justice Tijani Abubakar, in his contribution, upbraided the appellant for filing the bail application while on the run.

“We must make it very, very clear to all Nigerians that nobody is above the law. The government and the governed are subject to the rule of law. And we must ensure that there is respect for the rule of law.”

The Court of Appeal judgment that convicted Nwaoboshi followed an appeal by the EFCC against the judgment of Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of a Federal High Court in Lagos, which had on June 18, 2021, discharged and acquitted the lawmaker and his companies.

The Senator who had absented himself from the Senate for seven months and still taking his salaries and other entitlements. He was the Chairman, Senate Committee on NDDC, from where he entered into trouble.

Nwaoboshi, a three-time Senator of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, inexplicably defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Elections: FG Directs Universities To Proceed On Three Weeks Break

By
Ayodele Oni
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University Students3

By Ayodele Oni

As preparations for the general elections continue, all Federal Government owned Universities are to close for three weeks to enable students exercise their civic duties.

This will also allow some academic staff, to be engaged in election duties have time for the job.

The Federal Government has, therefore, directed Universities and Inter-University centres to shut down academic activities from February 22 to March 14.

The general election is expected to start February 25 with presidential and national assembly poll and March 11, for governorship and house of assembly.

The order is to allow the over 3.8 million registered voters, accounting for 40.8 per cent of students, to participate in the elections.

The directive was contained in a circular dated February 3, 2023 and addressed to all Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities and Directors/Chief Executives of Inter-University Centres by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

NUC Deputy Executive Secretary (Administration), Dr Chris Maiyaki, who signed the circular, confirmed that the decision was also taken following the concerns expressed on the security of staff, students and properties of the respective institutions.

The circular reads in parts: “As Vice-Chancellors of all Universities and Directors Chief Executives of Inter University Centres are quite aware, the 2023 General Elections have been scheduled to hold on Saturday 25 February 2023, for the Presidential and National Assembly, and Saturday 11 March 2023 for Gubernatorial and State Assembly, respectively.

“In view of the foregoing and concerns expressed on the security of staff, students and properties of  our respective institutions, the Honourable Minister of Education, Mal. Adamu Adamu has following extensive consultations with the relevant security agencies, directed that all Universities and Inter University Centres be shut down and academic activities be suspended between 22 February and 14th March, 2023

“Consequently, Vice-Chancellors, as well as Directors/Chief Executives of inter-university centres, are by this Circular requested to shut down their respective Institutions from Wednesday 22 February 2023 to Tuesday 14 March 2023.”

Sokoto Deputy Governor, Dan’Iya Debunks Purported Dumping of PDP

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Manir Dan’Iya

By Akinwale Kasali

Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Manir Dan’Iya has  debunked the news making the rounds that he has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Aminu Abubakar, Director of Press, office of the Deputy Governor, debunked the resignation claim, saying it is a rumour that his been peddled by mischief makers as he remains a bonafide member of the PDP.

Abubakar confirmed that not only is the Deputy Governor a bonafide member of the PDP he is, also,  a senatorial candidate of the party in the forthcoming General Elections.

He called members of the PDP in the State to disregard the letter in circulation which he described as the imagination of his opponents

The Deputy Governor just called me on phone now to inform me that he is not leaving the party anywhere, he said he remains a member of the PDP in the State,” he added.

Naira Crisis: Tinubu Campaign Brands Malami ‘Public Enemy’

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Bola Ahmed Tinubu

The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami is among the enemies of Nigerians, Bayo Onanuga, the director of the Media, APC Presidential Campaign Council, has said.

Reacting to the suit filed by Malami on Wednesday objecting to the Supreme Court decision to put the February 10, deadline set for the demonetization of old naira notes by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN on hold, Onanuga in a tweet said “Abubakar Malami is also a public enemy like Emefiele.”

The decision of the Godwin Emefiele-led CBN to introduce the new naira notes has imposed untold hardship on Nigerians as the scarcity of old and new banknotes spread across the country.

Commercial bank in the country have responded to the crisis by closing many of their branches, amidst protest in some parts of the country to force the federal government to stop the policy.

Recall that Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate has accused Emefiele of trying to stop the election from holding.

Governor Ele Rufai of Kaduna state has also accused some fifth columnist in the Presidency of trying to truncate the forthcoming election.

In response,  El Rufai, Governors Bello Matawale of Zamfara, and Yahaya Bello of Kogi had on Tuesday filed a suit at the apex court asking it to stop the CBN from demonetizing the old naira notes by Friday this week on the grounds that the policy has inflicted pains  on Nigerians.

But, Malami in his preliminary objection asked the Supreme court to set aside the ruling on the basis that the issues raised by the governors were faulty.

He said, “The claims or reliefs are not against the federation, but the Federal Government and its Agency, the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria is distinct from the Federation or the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Plaintiffs have no grievance whatsoever against the Federation of Nigeria.

“This suit has disclosed no dispute that invokes this (Supreme) Court’s original jurisdiction as constitutionally defined.”

The nation’s apex court ruled on a suit filed by three state governments, Kaduna, Kogi, and Zamfara challenging the CBN to end the legal tender status of the old naira notes of N200, N500, and N1000 by Friday this week.

The ruling has been followed by jubilation across the country, even though some have also described it as a pyrrhic victory for some elements in the ruling APC who insist that the policy was targeted at the party’s Presidential candidate Bola Tinubu who have praised the three governors who championed the suit as the saviors of the country at this difficult time.

Tinubu said after the ruling, “I want to salute the courage of our Governors and most especially the Progressives Governors in APC who acted to save our country from avoidable and dangerous political crises and social unrest which the Central Bank policy on new Naira notes has brought on our country.

“Our country was dangerously careering toward anarchy and political and economic shutdown. But with the Supreme Court interim ruling our country has been pulled back from the precipice. We thank our Supreme Court Justices for ruling wisely on the side of the people who have been subjected to undue agony and pains since this policy was announced.

“The Federal Government and relevant stakeholders can now sit down and work out better framework on how to proceed with the new policy without causing any social and economic disruption and inconvenience to our people. We have examples of other countries that have successfully and seamlessly changed their currencies to learn from.”

Meanwhile, not a few watching the ruling party insist that Tinubu’s men will not stop attacking those in Buhari’s government opposed to him wining the February 25 presidential election.

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