Naira Scarcity: You Have Endured Enough, Vote Out APC Now, Saraki To Nigerians

 Following the crisis emanating from the scarcity of Naira notes and the Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki has appealed to angry Nigerians to shun violent protest.

In a post on his verified Facebook page on Wednesday, the former lawmaker urged those protesting the scarcity to reserve their anger and express it during the forthcoming polls by voting out the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

According to him, Nigerians have endured a lot of hardship imposed on them by the present administration.

He wrote, “I hereby appeal to the good people of Kwara State who went on protest earlier today over the continuing scarcity of petrol and the new currency notes to please maintain peace and remain calm.


“One can understand how these two negative developments have created untold hardship for our people. It is indeed a difficult time.

“However, while calling on the Kwara State Government to immediately introduce measures that will alleviate the suffering of the people, I want to urge our people that instead of embarking on any violent protest, they should express their grievances during the coming elections by voting against all the candidates of the party that has brought the needless crisis. Our people have endured a lot of hardship from this government.”


Saraki further stated that governance should be about solving problems confronting the people, stressing that the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government has failed in that regard.

“Where the government has failed in that regard, the people should reject such a party and its candidates at the polls. And this should be done 

Daniel Bwala: Declare A State Of Emmergency In Rivers, Remove Wike As Governor

 The Spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Council, Daniel Bwala, has told the Federal Government to remove the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike before the 2023 general elections commence.

Bwala, who spoke Wednesday on Arise TV, said the only solution to the unending crisis in the PDP in the state is the removal of the state governor, adding that the Federal Government should declare a state of emergency in Rivers.

Bwala said that Wike’s antics may deter free and fair conduct of the forthcoming elections in the state.

He said, “If the chief executive officer of the state cannot allow a free and fair conduct, then the proper thing to do is to declare a state of emergency, remove him and conduct election there and this wouldn’t be new in Nigeria.”

Speaking further, Bwala said that the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, would win the presidential election even in Rivers State, adding the PDP cancelled its presidential rally in the state is to “avoid bloodshed.”

He added that Atiku, when he wins the elections, will go to Rivers State to celebrate with its people.

Bwala further stated that the state had leaders who would ensure Atiku wins. Mentioning the party’s former National Chairman, Uche Secondus, as “people that matter to deliver votes,” Bwala noted that such leaders had consistently delivered votes for Atiku when he ran in the past adding that “they are the ground soldiers who know the people at the base.”

The Rivers State Governor, Wike along with four other PDP governors; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu; Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia; Samuel Ortom, Benue; and Seyi Makinde, Oyo State, have consistently demanded the resignation of the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, as a prerequisite to supporting Atiku in the forthcoming polls, stating that the national chairman and the presidential candidate should not be from one region of the country, which in this case is the North.

Buhari Says Old ₦‎200 Note Will Remain Legal Tender Till April 10

 Buhari confirms that old 200Naira will be legal tender till 10 APRIL

Wike: Tinubu Turned Down PDP’s Offer To Sabotage Buhari In 2019 Election

 Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike yesterday recalled how the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, turned down offers to work against the reelection of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

Wike said after meeting with a former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, in Paris between 2017 and 2018, he was sent to the Bourdilion, to persuade Tinubu to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and work against Buhari. 

The governor commended Tinubu for his steadfastness and loyalty to President Buhari, despite the challenges he had faced in the ruling party.

He said: “I came to your house in Bourdillon. I came and said to you sir, look at the way the country is moving. There is no way we can allow the current president to continue in 2019. 

“You now asked me, okay, what are the alternatives? I said sir, we have Atiku, we have Tambuwal, we have Bukola. You laughed. You said, look, I will remain with Buhari. If these are your alternatives, I will remain with Buhari, that I don’t know them.”



The governor spoke when Tinubu, his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, and APC National Chairman Senator Abdullahi Adamu, visited him in Government House, Port Harcourt.

On Tinubu’s entourage were, Governors Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) ; Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), David Umahi (Ebonyi), former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva and Tony Okocha.

Wike commended the APC governors for their insistence that power must return to the South after President Buhari’s tenure.


He said: “I thank APC governors for standing firm to say the unity of this country is more paramount. If you want to be president, without peace, does it make sense? You must be president when the country is united and you will enjoy being president.”

The governor described the APC presidential candidate as a man of character and courage, saying such attributes were what the country desperately required.

He said: “I wish you good luck. I support the principle of fairness, equity and justice and that is what G-5 stands for. G-5 does not stand for anybody.”

He urged Tinubu to prevail on the Federal Government to ensure that 2023 general election was not truncated.

Wike noted that the Central Bank flagrant disregard to the Supreme Court on the naira swap policy should worry the APC-led Federal Government amidst the forthcoming poll.

Wike, who thanked God that the APC presidential rally in the state was devoid of violence, however, expressed reservation whether the APC-led Federal Government was interested in conducting the election particularly with the lingering naira swap crisis.

He said: “Do you people really want this election to take place or not; or you have an agenda to truncate this election? I don’t know. Look at what is happening in Oyo today, Edo, Delta. See what is going on.”

The Rivers State governor maintained that the abrupt naira redesign and the tactless implementation of the naira swap policy by the CBN smacked of pure politics. 

He insisted that irrespective of the politics, the ruling APC must ensure the conduct of the election. 

He said: “I believe your party should make sure this election holds. You people are in power. Ensure that this election holds. Nobody can solve the issue of corruption in two-three months. It is not possible . This thing is purely politically motivated.”


Wike took a swipe on the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, for his blatant disregard to the Supreme Court.

He said: “How can you people be in government at this time, governor of a Central Bank disrespecting the Supreme Court. Where has it happened in any democracy? Governor of Central Bank thinking of whether to obey Supreme Court order. Where has it happened?

“I am not talking about Federal High Court order, not Court Of Appeal. I am talking about Supreme Court. Supreme Court said do not do this and everybody is folding hand begging Central Bank to obey Supreme Court order. Which country has it ever happened? When the order of Supreme Court is not obeyed, what are you telling the poor people on the street?

Wike, who described himself as an unrepentant member of the PDP, said it was abominable for two PDP states, Bayelsa and Edo, to join the Federal Government as defendants in the suit brought before the Supreme Court by some states challenging the naira swap policy.

He said: “For the first time I have seen a government procuring opposition to join them to defend their policy. A policy that is anti-people. You are now the ones procuring we (PDP) to defend something that is totally wrong. I have seen anything like this in my life. It is a big shame.”

Wike advised Tinubu and the national leadership of the APC not to invest resources in any of the party’s candidate in the state, because none of them would win a single seat in the election.

Tinubu informed Wike that the courtesy visit was necessitated by his sheer regard and admiration for his advocacy that power should rotate to the South.

He said he joined the race to lead the country on the philosophy that power should return to the South, as consistently advocated by Wike.

Tinubu said: “Our courtesy call, not to personalise it, is out of the respect I have for you. You worked hard and you voiced loudly your commitment to unity and the critical part to that unity in Nigeria, you never advocated a division of our country. You followed history. You respect the country.”

Senator Adamu explained that APC had deliberately resolved that power should rotate to the South at the end of President Buhari’s tenure.

According to him, the decision resulted in the emergence of Tinubu as the presidential candidate for the 2023 election.

He commended the Rivers State governor for his advocacy that power should shift to the South. 

According to him, Wike had by his stance on power shift, demonstrated that he was a man of conscience

Court Orders Evans To Refund €233,000, N50Million ransom To Abducted Victim

 The Lagos High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) has ordered billionaire kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike alias Evans, to refund the sum of 233,000 Euros ransom he obtained from one of his victims, Chief Donatus Dunu.

Justice Olukayode Ogunjobi also ordered the convicted kidnapper to pay N50m as general damages in favour of the claimant.

Evans abducted Duru, a pharmacist, on February 14, 2017 for ransom and held him, hostage.

Duru subsequently escaped from captivity, but not before Evans demanded and obtained €233,000 from his captive.

Consequently, the Claimant, who is the CEO of Maydon Pharmaceutical Company, filed Suit No: LD/5243GCM/2018 demanding the return of the €223,000 and N50m as damages.

In his testimony before the court, the Claimant narrated that Evans ordered him to instruct his brothers, Anselm Dunu and Innocent Dunu to pay the ransom.

Duru testified that despite Evans receiving the €233,000 he refused to release him, adding that he escaped by himself.

Anselm corroborated him in his witness statement on oath sworn to on May 16, 2022.

His evidence was that a day after the kidnap, he spoke with Duru on the phone who instructed him to pay his abductors N100 million as ransom for his release.

Anselm stated that the abductors later demanded £ 1 million. He stated that his relation, one Uchenna Okagwu delivered the 233,000 Euros to the abductors.

However, in his defense, Evans contended that the strength of the Claimant’s case was predicated majorly upon criminal trial against him and others in Suit No. 1D/5970C/2017.

The defendant also submitted that the only evidence before the court as to the payment of 233,000 Euros and to whom if any it was paid to was the evidence of Okagwu who allegedly delivered the money to the abductors.

He added that in the criminal trial in Suit No. 1D/5970C/2017, Okagwu testified that he dropped the said sum on the ground and fled and that he did not see anybody or delivered the money to anyone.

He argued that the evidence of Okagwu who delivered the said ransom to the abductors which was the only direct evidence must pass the test of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

Evans submitted that the judgment delivered by Justice O.H. Oshodi on February 25, 2022 is now subject of an Appeal at the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division.

But dismissing his reasoning, Justice Ogunjobi found that the Defendant, among others, gave inconsistent evidence.

The Judge stated that having watched Evans’ demeanor while giving evidence in the witness box, he came to the conclusion that the defendant was not a witness of truth, and his evidence could not be trusted.

Justice Ogunjobi held: “It is settled law that no witness who gives materially inconsistent evidence on oath is entitled to the honour of being accorded any credibility and such does not deserve to be treated as a truthful witness.

“Besides adducing conflicting pieces of evidence on oath, I have watched the demeanor of the Defendant in the witness box when giving evidence and came to the conclusion that the Defendant is not a witness of truth.

“I do not believe his evidence. I accept the unchallenged and uncontroverted evidence of the Claimant and his witnesses. The evidence support the reliefs sought by the Claimant.

“Consequently, the Claimant is entitled to be paid or repaid and or recover from the Defendant, the sum of Euros 233,000 ransom coercively paid by the Claimant to Defendant when the Defendant kidnapped the Claimant in the year 2017 and held the Claimant hostage for months.

“The sum of N50million is awarded as general damages in favour of the Claimant against the Defendant.

“Post-judgment interest is awarded on the said sum of Euros 233,000 at the rate of 10% per annum from judgment i.e. 14th of February, 2023 until final liquidation. The adjudged said sum of Euros 233,000 and N50million is hereby ordered to be paid or recovered from the Assets of the Defendant. This is the judgment of the Court.”

The court however refused the claim for the pre-judgment interest of 40 percent per annum on the €233,000.

Why I Am Running To Be Nigeria's President - Bola Ahmed Tinubu

 Nigeria faces strong economic headwinds in the wake of the coronavirus and the war in Ukraine. To compound difficulties, the Central Bank of Nigeria has dismally implemented a demonetisation policy, causing an acute cash crisis just weeks before our elections. Ordinary Nigerians are struggling to buy food and other basics.

The central bank’s governor must immediately restore liquidity in our real economy to alleviate widespread hardship. Moving forward, my country needs sound implementation of prudent economic policies. Only realism and competence will now suffice.

The ideas that form my economic programme have sound empirical foundations. Some are painfully obvious. For instance, without adding value to Nigeria’s resources before they leave our shores, we export our prosperity—our long-standing overreliance on crude oil is emblematic. We need to produce more things at home—food, manufactured goods and refined products—to provide a base for jobs and growth. 

Too often politicians make promises to capture more of the value chain domestically. They then fail to keep them. Only by creating an environment in which private enterprise can succeed will it become reality. This requires consistent policies that reassure the business community; competent government that delivers infrastructure and the public services enabling companies to lower costs; and a monetary framework and regulatory environment that incentivises investment and employment. 

For this vital task, I have a track record my competitors cannot match. During my tenure as governor of Lagos between 1999 and 2007, the state went from being a difficult, often dangerous place to a development success story. We quadrupled state tax revenues, putting those funds directly to work through investing in public services and infrastructure. A legacy of technocratic governance was instituted by enlisting talent from the private sector. Insecurity and crime were tackled through better funding the police force. Investment and the business sector thrived. Today, Lagos would rank among Africa’s ten largest economies and does not rely on oil revenues to fund its budget. 

But we cannot simply replicate Lagos’s transformation nationwide. Nigeria is complex and variegated. Recognising the strengths of each section of the country and providing the bases on which they can all thrive is the path to economic growth. I know what can be achieved when the federal government allows adequate space for regional differences so I want to devolve more powers to the states. They should have greater authority to provide services and infrastructure projects, as well as more control over law enforcement.

Overreliance on oil has distorted Nigeria’s development. A country of over 200m people cannot hinge its development on a single commodity. We must focus on industrialisation and technological innovation, especially since Nigeria is already the top African destination for startup funding. 

Low-interest loans must be channelled—through a mix of governmental institutions and private banks—towards manufacturers and small- and medium-sized ventures. Tax credits and youth employment incentives will ensure the country’s productive capacity is better utilised.

To bolster food security and dampen imported inflation, credit to farmers will be expanded through government-sponsored programs. 

Commodity boards will be established that guarantee minimum prices for strategic crops to increase certainty and production. At the same time, illegal foreign dumping will be fought so domestic production can compete on an even playing field. Over the next four years the share of Nigeria’s land under cultivation should rise from 44% to 65% through the creation of agricultural hubs. These include a land-clearing programme in partnership with international agri-businesses, development agencies and financial institutions focusing on Nigeria’s 12 river basins. 

Monetary policies that deter investment will be rationalised. For example, the multiple exchange-rate regime—where an official rate in effect available only to importers, exporters, and investors operates alongside a significantly higher parallel rate—must end to better align with market realities.

The squeeze on foreign reserves caused by importing fuel will be eased by increased refinery capacity due later this year, not least by the Dangote refinery located within the Lekki Free Trade Zone (created in Lagos in 2006). Under my presidency, similar zones will be established across the country to give impetus to manufacturing and industrialisation tailored to regional competitive advantages.


We will end the harmful fuel subsidy, estimated to have cost $7.5bn in the first half of 2023. The funds will be more productively used in joint investments with the private sector to create jobs in infrastructure, health care, education and agriculture. 

Nigeria has one of the world’s lowest tax-to-gdp ratios. We need not increase rates, but improve compliance by overhauling the system and deploying information technology to boost efficiency. Tied with effective delivery of public services and infrastructure, a virtuous cycle of buy-in from businesses and citizens will strengthen the social contract and place federal revenues on a more sustainable footing. 

Economic activity will be bolstered by connecting the nation through road, rail, bridges and ports—financed by the rechannelled fuel-subsidy funds, public-private partnerships and manageable public debt. This will help close the infrastructure gap that stymies growth. Moreover, we shall build infrastructure that will endure through climate change and extreme weather. 

Success in government means active stewardship of a flourishing business environment. Private enterprise shall provide the needed jobs and economic growth in Nigeria. I will deliver the platform on which the private sector and average Nigerian can succeed.

El-Rufai: FG Claims That Old Notes Of ₦‎1,000, ₦‎500 Already Destroyed By CBN

 Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai on Wednesday said the federal government informed governora that only the old N200 note to remain legal tender and be circulated by the CBN till 10 April 2023.

He said the Federal government also said all the old notes of N1,000 and N500 already deposited by Nigerians have been destroyed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

In a statement made available to DAILY INDEPENDENT and signed by Muyiwa Adekeye, his Special Adviser to the Governor (Media & Communication) El and said the governors rejected the proposal because no single note of the old currency has been destroyed.

The full statement reads "A few hours after the Supreme Court adjourned the currency redesign case today, The Cable, a respected publication, published what it described as an exclusive story regarding the intentions of the Federal Government on the matter"

"Malam Nasir El-Rufai would like to clarify that The Cable has been misled by its sources on this issue. There has been no meeting this week between the FG and either the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) or the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), not to talk of one lasting till the wee hours of today, Wednesday, 15 February 2023".

"Rather, senior officials of the FG reached some governors, including Malam Nasir El-Rufai, on phone to initiate discussions on a possible out of court settlement. The terms they proposed were to allow only the old N200 note to remain legal tender and be circulated by the CBN till 10 April 2023. They claimed that the CBN had already destroyed the old N500 and N1000 notes that had been deposited, but that those persons who still held the old notes could redeem them up to 10 April 2023"

These were not considered as serious proposals, for obvious reasons. Circulating the old N200 notes alone would not be sufficient to relieve widespread human suffering in Kaduna State, and indeed in Nigeria today.They knew that and that is why they falsely claimed that the CBN had already destroyed the old N500 and N1000 notes. This is contrary to the fact available to the governors to the effect that the old notes were in the custody of commercial bank branches throughout Nigeria until the evening of Monday, February 13, and not a single N500 or N1000 had been destroyed.

It is also a non-starter to insist on a new cut off date without first assuring that sufficient new notes would have been printed and circulated. Information available to the governors also indicates that the Mint will need at least 12 months to print the minimum amount of N1 trillion needed to ensure a functioning trade and exchange environment in Nigeria.

The tabling of false facts, inadequate solutions to the sufferings of our people, and the bad faith that some of the FG negotiators displayed in our phone conversations and chats have now been taken further in leaking a false account and context to a respected medium. The plaintiff governors rejected the draft proposal as insincere, and invested our hopes in the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Malam Nasir El-Rufai will be addressing the people of Kaduna State on this currency redesign mess, the consequences of the extension of the injunction of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, and related matters tomorrow. But the Kaduna State Government feels it is important tonight not to allow an exclusive falsehood to stand, or even gain the slightest traction. This statement is therefore issued to put the records straight.