Tinubu claims credit for CBN’s extension of old naira notes deadline
The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has claimed credit for the extension of the deadline for the use of old naira notes by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
He said his intervention in the deadline prompted the postponement.
He revealed this on Sunday when he led other members of his campaign entourage on a courtesy visit to the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare ll, in his palace in Benin City, Edo State.
The CBN had fixed the deadline for the use of old naira notes for January 31, 2023; but announced it’s extension to February 10.
The APC presidential standard-bearer said he has in the past few days been intervening on behalf of petty traders so that they won’t suffer the difficulties that may be occasioned with the scarcity of new naira notes.
According to him, “Let me apologise to all the chiefs, respected leaders and traditional rulers for waiting since morning till now.
“This is not intentional but because of national politics. Some of your cousins and wives selling garden eggs, carrots and roasted corn need money and if naira is canceled, and we fail to intervene, then we have failed in our duty.
“We have been on this for three days. And, suddenly, in the afternoon, out of great respect, the presidency considered our request for an extension. I was running back and forth calling him.
“So, that is what we have been doing. Luckily, even though we didn’t get everything we wanted, we got an extension for a number of days.”
Continuing, Tinubu, who said he was in the Palace to seek the monarch’s blessings ahead of the presidential poll, acknowledged the Oba’s outspoken comments on the nation’s economy and rising unemployment level.
He also promised to leverage Edo state’s resources and bring education reforms, including ending the incessant strike by academic staff of universities and student loans so as to bring relief to parents and raise the sector’s standard.
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