From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
Former Secretary General, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Mr. Anthony Sani has said that the move by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to redesign some of the nation’s currency denominations was a wrong timing because the exercise will disrupt the 2023 political campaigns.
Sani noted that the excercise will divide the attention of politicians between changing their currencies and the need to also focus on electioneering programmes.
He therefore advised that the exercise should be carried out immediately after the general elections.
Speaking to our Correspondent on his reaction to CBN’s concluded plans to redesign the currency, the former ACF Scribe however, agreed that the motive behind the project was in order.
“While there can be no cavil with the significance of changing the currencies in order to get those who do not patronize banks into practices of using banks. More so that the change can render the cash in the custody of bandits and kidnappers unserviceable.
“But the timing is not suitable.This is precisely because the exercise would disrupt the campaigns.That is to say,the attention of local politicians will be torn between the need to change their currencies and the imperative of the campaigns, all of which can disrupt the electioneering processes.
“It is therefore more appropriate for the exercise to take place immediately after elections,and not when campaigns are on in the polity”. Sani said.