Bayelsa government: We support the redesign of the naira

A number of Civil Society Organizations operating under the auspices of the Civil Society Organizations Central Coordinating Council were confronted with an apology request from the government in a statement released in Yenagoa.

According to The News Agency of Nigeria, Mr. Ayibaina Duba, Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, signed the statement distancing Bayelsa from opposing the new policy.

Duba pointed out that at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, the CSOs, through one of its members, Gabriel Ojemena, falsely claimed that Governor Douye Diri was one of ten governors who opposed President Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) over the Central Bank of Nigeria's (CBN) naira redesign policy.

The CSOs asserted in the statement that the 10 governors were disrespectful of the President and plotting to render the nation incapable of being governed if the policy was not changed.

Duba claimed that in addition to being untrue and without merit, these accusations were also upsetting and disturbing.

When the governor was grieving the loss of his father, the commissioner observed that it was even more ludicrous and disrespectful.

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The government is especially appalled by the fact that CSOs, who ought to be more knowledgeable, instead acted as provocateurs to mislead Nigerians.

The government advises CSOs to examine the papers that several states submitted to the Supreme Court over the new notes suit rather than disseminating rumors.

"For the avoidance of doubt, Gov. Diri is not opposed to the CBN's or the Federal Government's Naira re-design program. He opposes the difficulty that the policy's execution has caused for Nigerians.

He first discussed the concept in public a week ago at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Kaduna South senatorial campaign launch in Zonkwa, in Kaduna State's Zangon Kataf Local Government Area.

His remarks in favor of the policy were unfavorable and clear, according to Duba.

Recalling Diri's remarks at the gathering, he remarked, "We need to reset this nation. Religion and ethnicity are not factors in the direction the nation is taking. It concerns a select group of individuals who have appropriated this nation's wealth for personal gain.

"While we oppose the common man suffering as a result of the abrupt CBN policy, this policy will alter not just our currency but also our leaders' perspectives on everything.

"While we beg the CBN to prevent suffering for our people, the other side—those of them with bullion vehicles who are willing to buy the presidency—have the CBN policy of Holy Ghost fire on them. They are shouting because of this. Why do people shout as though it matters more to them than it does to us?

"All the CBN is saying is that those who don't make money shouldn't carry cash around in bullion trucks to try to purchase our voters. The CBN has only made that statement, and we agree with it.

The Bayelsa administration urged the CSOs to provide tangible evidence that their actions were not intended as a hatchet job that ultimately backfired.

"Why include Governor Diri, a PDP governor, among his All Progressives Congress colleagues who are allegedly opposed to a decision made by their ruling party in government, if their goal was not born out of mischief?

"By his disposition, Governor Diri at all times promotes the peace and unity of Nigeria in his deeds and actions.

Therefore, he would refrain from any action that would harm his party or even the corporate life of the nation, according to Duba.

NAN