Governor Nyeson Wike of River StateThe Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, has thanked Nigerians for supporting the return of power to the Southern part of Nigeria as part of the unwritten agreement, through the election of Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 25 presidential election in the country.
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar | Reuters
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has described the President Muhammadu Buhari’s broadcast of February 16, 2023 on the redesigned Naira notes as autocracy.
It said that for the President to say in that broadcast that only N200 notes should remain legal tender was a threat to democracy, “which risked replacing democracy with autocracy.”
The apex Court, which ruled today, March 3, reversing the President’s directive and the policy of Cashless economy introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), directed that the old N1,000 and N500 notes should continue to exist along with the new notes as legal tenders.
In a unanimous decision, a seven-member panel of the court, led by Justice John Okoro directed that the CBN must continue to receive the old notes from Nigerians.
The court held that the directive of President Buhari for the redesign of the new notes and withdrawal of the old notes without due consultation is invalid.
The lead judgement was read by Justice Emmanuel Agim, who also criticized the President’s disobedience of the court’s earlier order that the old N200, N500, and N1,000 notes should continue to circulate alongside the new ones.
The Supreme Court’s ruling means that the CBN will be required to continue to issue and circulate the old N1,000 and N500 notes.
The court’s decision also means that the CBN will need to revisit its plans for a redesign and consult more widely with stakeholders before introducing any new notes.
The CBN had announced plans to redesign the naira notes and introduce new ones, with a deadline of January 31, 2023, for the phasing out of the old notes. However, the move was met with widespread criticism and legal challenges from various quarters.
The Supreme Court’s ruling was the result of a case filed by some State Governments challenging the CBN’s decision to phase out the old notes. The plaintiffs argued that the move would cause undue hardship to the public, especially those in rural areas who may not have easy access to the new notes.
The court also cited concerns about the potential impact on the economy and the public.
The court’s decision is seen as a major victory for the plaintiffs and a blow to the CBN’s efforts to introduce a new naira design.
The CBN had argued that the redesigning of the naira notes was necessary to address issues of counterfeiting, terrorism, kidnapping and money laundering.
The court’s decision has been met with mixed reactions, with some hailing it as a victory for democracy, while others expressed concern about its impact on the economy.
Atiku And ObiThe Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has expressed pain over the loss of the Southeast and South South votes in the last Saturday, February 25 Presidential election.
He accused the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi of taking away from him, the region that had been his traditional catchment area before this year’s election.
Answering reporters’ questions yesterday at the world press conference in Abuja, Atiku reminded Peter Obi that he can ever be President even if he wins the whole Southeast and South South.
“Winning election in the Southeast and the South South cannot make Peter Obi President.
“To be president of Nigeria, you need to win election across the country: Northeast, Northwest, North Central, as well as South South, Southwest, South South and Southeast.”
He complained that Peter Obi left PDP and joined Labour Part with no traceable unpleasant reason other than the fact that he wanted to be President of Nigeria.
Atiku said that with the Presidential election over, his doors and that of the PDP are opened for possible talk of alliance with Obi and his party to challenge the electoral process that brought in Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as President-elect under the umbrella of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles has beaten Uganda by a lone goal in Ismailia in the second quarter-final to teach the final in the 17th Africa U20 Cup of Nations in Egypt.
As early as the 10th minute, Goalkeeper Chijioke Aniagboso, had to enact a reflex save to stop a bullet header from a corner kick.
Both teams continued to frisk for opportunities with Nigeria’s Ibrahim Muhammad and Haliru Sarki probing deep but undone mostly by inaccurate passes and poor ball-holding in the final quarter.
However, on the dot of half hour, Ibrahim Muhammad, who scored one of the goals that sank Mozambique on the final day of Group A attrition, latched onto a long ball from the defence, controlled well and fired.
His effort saw the ball hit the upright, and in his confusion, defender Ibrahim Juma helped the ball into his own net for the only goal of the match.
Muhammad should have made it two to purchase a cruise for Nigeria only four minutes after the restart, but he put too much power behind his turn and shot.
On the hour mark and seven minutes after, Aniagboso saved point-blank efforts that sustained Nigeria’s lead, and in the 80th minute, Samson Lawal spun the ball away from goal from a 22 -yard free-kick.
Victory earned Nigeria a slot in Monday’s semi-finals as well as a ticket to Indonesia.
The Flying Eagles will take on the winner of the clash between Congo and Tunisia, happening at the Cairo International Stadium tomorrow, March 3..
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu
The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 25 Presidential election in Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has recalled “with a heart full of sadness,” his 30 years battle to birth and deepen democracy in Nigeria.
