PDP: It’s treason for el-Rufai to incite Nigerians against Buhari’s order on old naira notes

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign council says Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, is “inciting” Nigerians against President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive on old naira notes. 

In the televised address on Thursday, Buhari said he has directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to extend the validity of old N200 notes till April 10.

The president also said all existing old N1,000 and N500 notes would remain redeemable at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and designated points for 60 days.

But reacting to Buhari’s directive, el-Rufai said the old and new notes remain legal tender in Kaduna pending the supreme court’s decision.

The supreme court, on February 8, ruled that the old notes remain legal tender pending the determination of a case filed by some state governors.

On Wednesday, the apex court said its order on the old notes stands and the ruling on the matter was adjourned till February 22.

Speaking when he featured on The 2023 Verdict, a programme on Channels Television on Friday, Daniel Bwala, spokesperson of the PDP campaign, said el-Rufai committed treason by countering Buhari’s order on the old naira notes.

Bwala said el-Rufai should have reported to the supreme court if Buhari’s directive conflicted with that of the court instead of “inciting” people against him.

“If you are in doubt about a decision of the court that you felt a member of your cabinet and the leader of your party have violated — the law that we know (says) that when the matter comes up at the supreme court you either get contempt proceedings against the president or you will draw the attention of the supreme court that the man has acted (up) badly,” Bwala said.

“But this is their reaction: what they claim is a violation of the court order that governor el-Rufai sat and address the people of Kaduna state and by extension the members of APC throughout the federation of Nigeria that they should disobey the orders of president Buhari who stands as the symbol of the sovereignty of the country.

“Let me tell you what treason means. Treason is defined as the crime of betraying one’s country, especially by attempting to kill or overthrow the sovereignty of a government of a federation. That is exactly what governor el-Rufai did. He attempted to undermine the sovereignty of the government of the federation.

“The el-Rufai that is inciting Nigerians to rise against the government because the government violated orders, let me tell you, as the FCT minister, el-Rufai disobeyed all court orders and demolished houses. He disobeyed all court orders given that they should restore the staff that went on strike. He disobeyed the order of the court about the compensation of people whose land he demolished.

“As a governor, he disobeyed the court order in the conduct of the local government election at the time it was given. He disobeyed court order that restrained him from sacking teachers and civil servants in Kaduna.”