Why I Am Fighting Buhari – Zamfara Governor;  Orders Arrest Over Rejection Of Old Naira Notes

By Adesina Soyooye

The Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, has explained why he has joined in the fight against President Muhammadu Buhari.

He has also said that anybody in Zamfara State who rejects the old Naira notes of N200, N500 and N1,000 as legal tenders  will be arrested.

The Governor  gave the order to Security Agencies and said that the old notes remain legal tender until said otherwise by the Supreme Court.

Matawalle is one of the three Northern Governors of  Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara States whose Governments dragged the Federal Government and the Central Bank to the Supreme Court over the deadline for the new Naira swap.

The Supreme Court orderd a temporary relief till 15th February, 2023, when the Parties will go back to Court.

The Governments of Ondo and Kano State, have also instituted their own case.

While the FG said it would obey the order, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has gone to Court to ask it to vacate the temporary relief and throw out the case for lack of jurisdiction.

But Matawalle,  at the swearing-in ceremony of new High Court Judges and newly appointed special Advisers at the Government House, Gusau, said:

“As you are all aware, the economy of the country as a whole has been plunged into a serious crisis by the decision of the Central Bank to cease recognition of the old naira notes as legal tender from February 10th.

“This decision compounded the already dire situation of our State occasioned by banditry and sundry crimes, which significantly disrupted economic activities in the State and the subregion over the years.

“It was in consideration of the grave consequences of this disruptive policy which was not well thought out, that I took the decision to team up with the sister states of Kaduna and Kogi to seek the intervention of the Supreme Court to ensure that both the new and old naira notes remain as legal tender beyond February 10th. Gladly, the Supreme Court has given an interim injunction barring the CBN from enforcement of its plan of derecognizing the old notes as legal tender from today, pending its final ruling on the matter on February 15th. The Supreme Court has done  needful which will alleviate the suffering of the masses.

“This courageous decision by the Supreme Court has no doubt saved the country from sliding into a crisis of great proportion that may affect the peace and stability of the country and possibly prevent the holding of the general elections billed for this month.

“I have joined in this salvaging mission, notwithstanding my proximity and good rapport with His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari.”