Naira Swap: Intention Of CBN Isn’t Corruption-Free Election, But To Scuttle Election — Oshiomhole

Adams Oshiomhole, the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has accused the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) of aiming to stop the 2023 elections from taking place.

Oshiomhole also accused the apex bank of deceiving President Muhammadu Buhari on the new naira policy.

The President had last year approved the redesign of the N200, N500, and N1,000 notes.

However, the policy is currently causing untold hardship for Nigerians as commercial banks have not made the new notes available to the public.

Speaking on Sunday during a Channels Television’s programme, 2023 Verdict, Oshiomhole insisted that the policy was ill-timed, adding that the apex bank wrongly advised the president on the “senseless” policy.

READ ALSO: 2023 Presidency: PDP Crisis Is An Advantage For APC – Oshiomhole

The former Edo State governor said the “CBN just woke up to say they have redesigned the currency. There was no consultation, not even within the government. At least, the minister of finance cried out and warned of economic consequences.

“As I have argued, it’s not only about the fact that the CBN had acted within the law. We’re taught in basic leadership that whoever is in power should pray for wisdom. It is wisdom that will make you recognize that you can change a policy overnight for a population of 200 million.

“So, I can guess, I was not there, that in obtaining the approval, I believe the CBN deceived the president by amplifying the need to have corruption-free electioneering as if election is the only project this president has a responsibility for.”

He argued that the CBN convinced President Buhari that reducing vote-buying through the naira redesign would catch dishonest politicians off guard.

“The President Buhari that I know will have no difficulty in agreeing. You could see that the intention of the Bank is not to eliminate abuses but to stop the elections from taking place,” he concluded.