Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka has criticized the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, for the controversial naira swap policy that resulted in a nationwide scarcity of banknotes.
Recalled Emefiele had introduced redesigned N200, N500, and N1,000 banknotes in October 2022, announcing the phasing out of the old notes by January 31, 2023, and later extending the deadline to February 10.
Though the policy was premised on preventing vote-buying in the lead-up to the general elections by phasing out the old currency notes and replacing them with redesigned N200, N500, and N1,000 notes.
The CBN had announced that the old notes would be phased out by January 31, 2023, but the deadline was later extended to February 10.
However, the Supreme Court later ruled that the old currency would remain legal tender until December 31, 2023, the Supreme Court later ruled that the old currency remain legal tender until December 31, 2023.
In the Monday broadcast of Channels Television’s Roadmap 2023, the Nobel Laureate condemned the CBN governor over the naira swap policy for the hardship faced by Nigerians due to the implementation.
“Emefiele has committed a crime against humanity, over and beyond even any electoral mago mago (foul play),” Soyinka said.
“He struck at the heart of the subsisting survival principles, minimal needs and entitlements of the ordinary people in the street.”
Speaking on the need for people-focused leadership, he explained that his agitations have always been born of a desire to interact with Nigerians in a state he referred to as civic dignity.
For the revered playwright, President Muhammadu Buhari allowed Emefiele to let Nigerians suffer.
“Don’t bully me. Don’t take my voice away. Don’t take my economic potential away, my economical entitlements. Don’t throw me on the mercy of sadists like Emefiele,” he said.
“He and his boss, Buhari, because ultimately the responsibility rests with him [Buhari] to have allowed this to happen. But he [Emefiele] is the expert. He’s the one who gives the advice, he’s the one who executes the policies.”
Soyinka accused the CBN governor of reducing the country to a state of despondency.
Recounting his own experience, the activist said, “Even a few days ago, when I sent a text to the bank and a cheque came back, they had no cash.
“One of the bankers eventually brought me something from his stash and explained to me what had been going on, how they would sit and wait for the money to come.
“You can’t buy a newspaper. You can’t buy guguru (popcorn) and epa (groundnuts), which means that you cannot pay for the plantain; which means that the farmer cannot even pay for transportation of the goods from his farm to the [markets].”
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