Naira Scarcity: Datti Blasts Buhari Over New Deadline And Directives

The Labour Party (LP) vice presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has slammed President Muhammadu Buhari, saying the extension of the deadline for the use of old N200 notes implies weakness on his part.

Naija News earlier reported that Buhari during a nationwide broadcast on Thursday approved the continuous usage of the old 200 naira notes as legal tender until the 10th of April.

The president stated that the old 200 naira notes will be distributed back into circulation while the old N500 and N1000 notes cease to be legal tender and are all redeemable at the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, Datti said Buhari’s decision shows he is becoming a weakling.

According to him, Buhari has shifted grounds twice and may still make another shift when the new deadline elapses.

He said: “It is with mixed feelings because when you see a President budge once, however small, those mighty (people) that prevailed on him to budge will see a gleam of hope to press further.

“Maybe this President is becoming a weakling, as they would say a lame duck President, and if you cede one inch, you are likely to cede another inch.

“So, it is a lot of concern for us for the President to change position literally nine days to the election.

“However, we have recognized the fact that currency is a sovereign matter and no state governor, especially those who don’t respect court judgement have any right to interfere with the Federal government in issues about currency.

“We pray that the election would go well so that as His Majesty said if election is well done, it can open the space for good governance”