The Southern Kaduna People’s Union on Friday, said the governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, should be investigated following his opposition to the Federal Government’s directive that the old naira notes of N1000 and N500 have ceased to be legal tender effective February 17.

The PUNCH reports that while addressing the nation, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), said the old N500 and N1,000 banknotes were no longer legal tender in the country. He, however, said the old N200 note would be legal tender for the next 60 days, till April 10, 2023, while urging Nigerians to deposit their old N500 and 1000 notes with the CBN.

However, in complete disregard to the President’s directives on the N500, N1000 naira notes to be deposited in the various branches of the Central Bank of Nigeria across the country, El-Rufai mandated residents of the state to continue the use of the old naira notes, pending the determination of the matter which is before the Supreme Court.

The governor gave the directives in a state-wide broadcast on Thursday night.

But the SOKAPU in a statement by its Spokesperson, Luka Binniyat, argued that El-Rufai’s “desperation was not ordinary”, declaring that he (El-Rufai) should be investigated.

According to Binniyat, SOKAPU has been observing the curious ongoing drama between Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State and the Federal Government over the new Naira policy.

The statement read, “El-Rufai as it looks is heading a gang of APC governors bent on reversing the controversial Naira redesign and they have managed to get the Supreme Court to order a temporary stop to it. President Muhammadu Buhari and Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emiefele have refused to heed to the order of the Supreme Court in toto.


“The desperation of el-Rufai is not ordinary and we suggest that he should be investigated. However, El-Rufai has gone overboard in his reaction to the response of Buhari to the Supreme Court order.

“In his broadcast to the State last night, el-Rufai sounded desperate; he became unduly emotional and abusive and spoke with a lot of braggadocios in the typical manner that has been his public image. He even alleged that there was a plot to stop the 2023 general election and its place an interim government installed.

“He called on Kaduna State citizens to disobey the directives of President Buhari. He insisted that the N500 and N1000 notes are still legal tenders in Kaduna State, contrary to the position of the Federal Government and promised dire consequences on anyone who refused to make transactions with them in Kaduna State.

“It will therefore look like el-Rufai has declared himself a rebel. If this is not treason, then we need another definition of the word.

“If El-Rufai has such goodwill towards the people of Kaduna State why has he not approached the Supreme Court to force the Federal government to wipe out the so-called bandits that have taken over a large portion of Kaduna State creating their own government right under his nose?”


“We are yet to see El-Rufai make a case at the Supreme Court forcing the National Emergency Management Agency to give relief materials to the millions of IDPs in Kaduna State. SOKAPU does not know el-Rufai for charity towards his electorates; we have no records of him on empathy and sympathy to the suffering people of Kaduna State.

“From all accounts, el-Rufai’s most important concern is the flow of raw cash for seamless spendings during elections. But there may be more than meets the eyes. It has been said that there are a few powerful individuals and families that have stashed away billions of stolen Naira which they can’t put in the bank without raising suspicion.


“So, we want to appeal to our members not to be charmed by El-Rufai’s bravado towards the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Government as a genuine act of concern to the citizens.

“He cannot hide under the cover of the suffering we are going through as a result of the new Naira policy and wage his war.”

huptin:
What El Rufai did was an open defiance to the president's order, he also encouraged citizens to defy their president, this may be tantamount to declaring a war against the president which is treasonable.

The punishment for treason is death.

unclejb2:
El Rufai is the most dangerous person in Nigeria today.

However, we are retiring him to terrorism this month.

A new Nigeria is possible.

Peter Obi is coming

huptin:
What El Rufai did was an open defiance to the president's order, he also encouraged citizens to defy their president, this may be tantamount to declaring a war against the president which is treasonable.

The punishment for treason is death.

ShenTeh:
...Governors openly disobeying the Commander-in-Chief is treasonable felony.

Today El-Rufai wants to help us ordinary people to defend democracy by disobeying the president and the CBN, which was acting within its constitutional provision.

This is the ultimate litmus test for Buhari's firmness. Could any governor have dared Obj in his days like this?

Abeg general pass general...

MikoB:
Hmmm, Buhari does not know that when the country will burn it will start from his northern region, I have never seen a clueless man like Buhari before in my life, all these moves wouldn't have been necessary if he had done the right thing during the presidential primary, even in the western world, I have never seen a leader that does have a preferred candidate to succeed him or her, now that Tinubu is robbing it in his face that explains the hasty decisions lately, but guess what, it is too late....

huptin:
What El Rufai did was an open defiance to the president's order, he also encouraged citizens to defy their president, this may be tantamount to declaring a war against the president which is treasonable.

The punishment for treason is death.

huptin:
What El Rufai did was an open defiance to the president's order, he also encouraged citizens to defy their president, this may be tantamount to declaring a war against the president which is treasonable.

The punishment for treason is death.

Mrmb:

The president disregarding the order if the law court is tantamount to what?

The judiciary is an independent arm of the government whose orders should be respected by all and sundary... The executive us not independent, it works in collaboration with the legislative arm but the judiciary is independent. In every sane nation the order if the court us respected by all why should our own be different?