Nyesom Wike
‘Buhari has already overruled the Supreme Court’ – Wike berates President over fresh order on N200 notes
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has reacted to the decision by President Muhammadu Buhari to allow introduction of the old N200 naira notes into circulation for a period of 60 days till April 10, saying the Presidential aides ‘should have urged him to respect the Supreme Court order.’
In a media chat, Thursday, Governor noted that President Muhammadu has already overruled the Supreme Court by the order banning the old notes and only allowing the recirculation of the N200 note, against the ruling of the apex court which had ordered the Federal Government to stop the implementation of the February 10 deadline for the cessation of the old notes as legal tender in the country while ruling in the suit on February 18 and 15, brought before it by three state governors on February 3.
Buhari had on Thursday directed the CBN to release the old N200 notes into circulation to co-exist with new N200, N500, and N1,000 banknotes for 60 days, while closing the window on the old N500 and N1,000 banknotes as legal tender in the country.
“The Supreme Court has given an interim order; we should have waited for it. As far as I am concerned, it is corporate interference that is not good for our system, and for our democracy.
“The highest court of the land has made a pronouncement. The Supreme Court has said not to do anything that will affect the use of the old naira note.
“I feel that (the President’s declaration) is not the proper thing and I am not happy.
“This also tells us how we do not respect or obey the rule of law. At this level, the advisers to Mr President would have said, ‘This issue is subject to litigation, and any step you take will one way or the other affect the Supreme Court’s (stance)’,” Wike said.
It would be recalled that the Supreme Court had while adjourning in the suit last Wednesday, fixed February 22 for hearing and determination of a notice in respect of the issue on February 22.
In a related development, the Rivers Governor, Wednesday, embarrassed the Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who had stopped over to seek his support in his political aspiration.
Wike bared his mind at Tinubu, who was in the state for his campaign rally in Port Harcourt, telling the APC chieftain that ‘in the history of Nigerian politics, it was under the APC ruling that the Supreme Court was ridiculed to the minimum and its ruling disobeyed.’
“It is you people’s government; it is unfortunate we have to say things; it’s so painful when you ridicule the Supreme Court to this level; where is the hope again?”
“The Supreme Court gave an order, and you people are playing politics with it; tomorrow you will see that nobody will obey the Supreme Court order; everybody will just do as they wish.”
“I’m not campaigning for you, however, and I’m not going to campaign against you, but the truth must be told,” Wike told Tinubu.
