Amidst serious hardship encountered by the teeming populace of Zamfara over policy of naira note swap initiative of the CBN Governor Bello Matawalle has met with the Branch controller of the Central Bank in his office on Friday.
The meeting between the Governor and Central Bank officials was borne out of the desire of the Governor to secure first-hand information on what the bank is doing to alleviate the suffering of the people.
It could be recalled that Governor Bello Matawalle alongside his Kaduna and Kogi states counterpart drag the CBN to the Apex Court demanding for an interim order to allow for continued use of old naira notes pending when the new notes are made available in circulation.
The Apex Court agreed with Governor Matawalle and his colleagues and also issued an order of interim injunction restraining the CBN and all commercial banks in Nigeria from banning the use of old naira notes pending the hearing and determination of the substantive motion on notice by February 15th 2023.
During the interface, Governor Matawalle directed the Central Bank and indeed all commercial banks in Gusau to allow the continued collection of the old currency pending any new pronouncement by the Supreme Court of the land.
He lamented that he was compelled to head to the Apex Court, considering the suffering his people are undergoing since the commencement of the implementation of the policy by the CBN.
He noted that sensitive policy like this need to be carefully implemented considering the peculiarities of the people and their environment, noting that Zamfara as a state driven basically by rural economy cannot be forced to join a policy that is unprepared; hence it can lead to more serious problem than anticipated.
He noted that as a leader, he cannot hold his hands and allow his people to be suffering when he has an option and that is why he head to court to secure the interim order as a source of relief for his people.
He directed the bank to ensure that money is made available for people of Zamfara to use even if it is the old notes pending the determination of the issues at the the Supreme Court made any further pronouncement regarding the matter.
He warned that his administration will not allow any form of sabotage that will lead to his people going for another form of suffering.
The Governor called on the security agencies to arrest anybody found rejecting the old naira notes, pending any pronouncement by the Apex Court.
STAKEHOLDERS COMMENDS GOV. MATAWALLE OVER STEPS TAKEN TO ALLEVIATE THE SUFFERING OF HIS PEOPLE.
An economist and public affairs analyst, Muhammad Ibrahim commended Governor Bello Matawalle for taking the most proactive steps of heading to the Supreme Court to save his people.
He said the decision of Bello Matawalle the Governor of Zamfara to head to court and test the supremacy of the people over an anti-citizen policy by the CBN is a clear testimony that the Governor is concern about the pain undergone by his people.
He urged other Governors in Nigeria to support the decisions of Governor Matawalle and his colleagues to collectively descend on the matter and ensure that Nigerians became liberated.
BUSINESS MEN HAILS MATAWALLE OVER COURT CASE INSTITUTED
Hajara Muhammad a businesswoman based in Tudun Wada has stated that without the steps taken by Governor Matawalle and his colleagues of going to the Supreme Court to stop the poor implementation of the CBN policy on naira redesign small businesses would have crashed in Zamfara and many other states in Nigeria.
She said, as a fish seller she spent close to one week without earning a single naira note old or new from the customers, noting that before the recent development initiated by the Governor of Zamfara and his colleagues she wanted to have closed down the business.
Another businessman in Tudun Wada market Lawali Mai Nama said the decision of Governor Matawalle has elevated him to a higher level since the majority of Nigerians have commended him for taking the bold step of dragging the CBN to court.
Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara has said that anyone who refuses to accept the old currency notes of two hundred, five and One Thousand naira in the state should be arrested and for us qe feel liberated and we thanked him much sincerely and wish him well.
