Phrank Shaibu, a special assistant on public communications to Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has accused some governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of making inciting remarks that are fueling violence across Nigeria.
Mr. Shaibu pointed out that the new naira policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria has resulted in a cash crunch that has become a problem across the country, and about 10 APC states have sued the federal government at the Supreme Court over it.
Two APC governors, Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state and Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, have rejected the federal government policy, urging banks in their respective states to accept the old naira notes or face sanctions. However, Mr. Shaibu warned that their inciting remarks have emboldened rioters to burn down commercial banks, which is unacceptable.
Mr. Shaibu noted that the president has made it clear that the old N1,000 and N500 notes are no longer legal tender, and those who are dissatisfied with the president’s proclamation should go to court rather than resort to self-help.
Governor Dapo Abiodun, who is the number one citizen of Ogun State, should know better, but his act of defiance has evoked rebellion, hence the riots and burning of banks in Sagamu, Abeokuta, and Mowe.
Mr. Shaibu also supported the claims of the governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, accusing Adams Oshiomhole, an APC chieftain, of sponsoring the riots in Benin, the state capital. He called on the Nigeria Police Force, the Secret State Services, and other security agencies to infiltrate the ranks of those staging riots to identify their sponsors.
With elections less than five days away, the ultimate goal of the sponsors of these riots may be the postponement of elections. Therefore, he commended the military and the police for curbing some of these riots.
