…says Govs inciting comments emboldening people to attack banks                

•Protesting youths set banks, IBEDC, INEC offices ablaze in Ogun

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has accused governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of preparing the ground for anarchy in the country through their virulent utterances and outright confrontation posture over the naira redesign project of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications Mr. Phrank Shaibu, the PDP candidate, sympathised with Nigerians over the hardship they were facing over the naira scarcity, which was having unintended consequences.

Atiku’s accusation came as the ancient town of Sagamu, headquarters of Sagamu Local Government, area of Ogun State was yesterday morning, thrown into chaos as angry youths protesting the scarcity of the new naira notes attacked branches of four commercial banks and other public facilities in the town.

Following the nationwide broadcast by President Muhammadu Buhari, directing the recirculation of the old N200 and that the N500 and N1,000 should cease to be legal tender, the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el Rufai made a counter broadcast directing the people of Kaduna to ignore the presidential broadcast and continue to do business with the old notes. He cited the Supreme Court interim injunction as reason.

Also following Rufai’s footsteps, was Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje who threatened that: “Any bank that refuses to accept old N500 and N1,000 notes will be destroyed. We will not tolerate such disobedience from any financial institution operating within our jurisdiction,”

Governor Ganduje further disclosed that the space of the destroyed banks would be used for building schools.

“We will convert the space of the destroyed banks into schools that will provide quality education for our children,” he had threatened.

Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, also threatened that, “the Ogun State Government will be revoking the Certificate of Occupancy, of any corporation or store that rejects old naira notes from members of the public in the State in exchange for goods and services.”

Also, Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara had ordered the arrest of anyone who refuses to accept the old N500 and N1,000.

But Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri and his Osun State counterpart, Senator Ademola Adeleke, yesterday sued for calm following the raging controversy over the naira redesign policy.

Adeleke also warned against hoarding of new naira notes by commercial banks, calling on the CBN to sanction financial institutions involved in such anti-people activities.

Atiku, however, said the inciting comments by some APC governors wherein they threatened to shut banks rejecting the old notes had emboldened rioters to burn down commercial banks.

He said Abiodun, who had threatened to revoke the certificate of occupancy of banks rejecting the old notes, was acting like a dictator, and this had evoked rebellious actions.

Atiku stated, “The president made it clear that the old N1,000 and N500 notes are no longer legal tender. Those who are dissatisfied with the President’s proclamation should go to court rather than resort to self-help. Two wrongs do not make a right.

“Governor Dapo Abiodun, who is the number one citizen of Ogun State, ought to know better. However, he has been threatening to revoke the C of O of banks that obey the President’s proclamation. This act of defiance has evoked rebellion, hence the riots and burning of banks in Sagamu, Abeokuta, and Mowe”.

Atiku, in the statement by his aide, knocked the All Progressives Congress (APC) chapter in Ogun State for distributing old notes to voters ahead of the election as seen in viral videos.

He added, “In viral videos all over social media, agents of Governor Abiodun could be seen sharing the old notes in envelopes branded with the governor’s picture, convincing the supporters that the notes remain legal tenders contrary to the CBN policy.

“It is obvious that Governor Abiodun’s concern has nothing to do with the pains of the people. It is only because of the inability of his party to buy votes. If we may ask, where did the APC in Ogun State get the old notes that are no longer in circulation? These are funds that were stashed for vote buying.”

He also noted that Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State had accused APC chieftain, Adams Oshiomhole, of sponsoring the riots in Benin, which he said was clear evidence that the APC was behind the riots.

“Oshiomhole is one of the biggest critics of the naira redesign policy. It is not surprising that Governor Obaseki, who is the chief security officer of the state, has established that Oshiomhole is behind the riots. The APC really needs to stop provoking these riots,” the statement added.

Shaibu also knocked Kaduna State Governor, Nasir ell-Rufai; and Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State for trying to provoke civil disobedience in their states.

He said, “The APC and their governors do not love the masses. Their only grouse is their inability to buy votes because of this policy. Nigerians must not be deceived by these unscrupulous politicians.”

Atiku’s aide called on the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, and other security agencies to infiltrate the ranks of those staging riots with a view to identifying their sponsors.

He said the ultimate goal might be to force the Independent National Electoral Commission to postpone the election on the grounds of insecurity.

“With elections less than five days away, the ultimate goal of the sponsors of these riots may be the postponement of elections. We commend the military and the police so far for curbing some of these riots.

“However, we call on them to go a step further by identifying their sponsors” he said

Angry Youths set Banks, IBEDC, INEC offices ablaze in Ogun

At Sagamu, the headquarters of Sagamu Local Government, area of Ogun State, the violent protesters attacked branches of  Union Bank, Keystone Bank, Polaris Bank and Access Bank. While branches of Keystone and Union banks, were burnt, the protesters, attacked branches of Polaris and Access banks.

Other public facilities burnt, were the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), located within the Sagamu Local Government Secretariat while furniture and other property of the local government, were also burnt.

In addition, it was gathered that the protesters, also burnt the Sagamu office of the Ibadan Electric Distribution (IBEDC) while they also made bonfire on Sagamu/ Lagos/Benin Expressway.

The protest which was said to have begun in front of the palace of the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, spread to other parts of the town.

The angry youths had last Friday barricaded the Mowe axis of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway in protest of the naira scarcity.

A youth leader in the town, Kayode Segun-Okeowo, described the act as a, “motivated destruction and not a protest.”

“This is not a protest. I’m a comrade and understand the ABC of protest. It’s motivated to cause destruction.

“Those behind this must be stopped,” he said in a telephone interview.

He also confirmed that two commercial banks have been set on fire.

Meanwhile, the Akarigbo of Remo, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, has called for calm.

A statement signed by the Oba read: “Appeal to all to remain calm and peaceful as we continue to engage the Federal Government.

“This policy is not from the state or local government. Therefore, the destruction of lives and properties will only compound an already bad situation.

“I urge our people to continue to accept the old notes in line with the Supreme Court ruling. No person who accepts the old notes would lose out. I can assure you of that, and please hold on to that promise.”

Reacting to the situation, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), for  Ogun State Command, Abombola Oyeyemi, said normalcy has been restored in greater parts of the town.

Oyeyemi, said the Commissioner  of Police for the State, Frank Mba, was  personally leading police teams and some military men to tackle the situation.