President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to recirculate the old N200 notes till April 10 has been backed by opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party.
The spokesman for the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Mr Charles Aniagwu, stated this in Asaba.
Aniagwu accused the All Progressives Congress of taking advantage of suffering Nigerians to derail the electioneering process in the country.
He said, “PDP is in support of President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to recirculate the old N200 notes till April 10 to ease Nigerians sufferings.
“We must agree with the President that we appreciate the things that Nigerians are going through on account of the scarcity of the new naira note redesign.
“We believe that it is important that the CBN takes steps to further ameliorate what the masses are going through. And what the President did today, is a pointer that government is desirous of solving the challenges being experienced by very credible Nigerians as they approach the banks for their monies.
“The decision of the President that authorises the release of the old N200 naira notes into the economy in order to reduce the sufferings of people, is a welcome development.
“We also agree that it is important to take steps to curb corruption, issues of vote buying and that of insecurity, which has been a major problem. So this policy to a large extent, have addressed that.
“We do hope that the sufferings Nigerians are going through will be mitigated by this directive that Mr. President has given the CBN to release the old N200 naira notes up till April 10.”
He appealed for calm and patience to allow the CBN implement the President’s directive, noting that it would to a large extent ameliorate their suffering.
Aniagwu pleaded to Nigerians to exercise patient with the government, saying, “because we have it as intelligence that members of the APC both in the state and at the national level, are trying to take advantage of the pains in the minds of Nigerians to trigger some form of crisis with a view to derailing this election.
“What you saw happening in a number of places does not show the real pains in the minds of Nigerians who have demonstrated understanding with the government’s policy.
“You have seen what happened in Warri and Udu areas of Delta State. Some are burning billboards and shops. The question is, do we keep the redesigned naira notes on bill boards or in those local shops?
“So it not proper for us to inflict pains on our fellow Nigerians. Therefore, it tells you that this protest is coming from somewhere with a view to creating crisis.
“Secondly, our brothers and sisters work in these bank branches and earn monies from the banks.
“So even if you burn down this banks, you are also causing pains for this our brothers who are going to lose their jobs on the account that the bank branch where they work is destroyed or closed.
“So we are pleading to Deltans and other Nigerians to please not to fall pray to the antics of those who know that they would lose this election and want to cause mayhem so that they undermine the election,” he added
He called on judicial officers not to allow these governors use them to achieve a very bad aim, noting that two PDP governors, Edo and Bayelsa states have joined in the suit on the side of the Federal Government.