Ibraheem Hamza Muhammad
Alhaji Isyaku Ibrahim, an elderstatesman has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Central Bank of Nigeria , (CBN) to extend deadline given for currency swap to avoid loss by rural dwellers.
He made the statement in Abuja on Thursday, saying that the deadline set by the government through the CBN for swap of old with new currency notes was too short.
According to him, “The January 31st deadine directive for the acceptance of old currency notes is short, because many traders and rural dwellers does not have or conduct transaction with banks.
“The President should have concern for the common man by increasing the deadline, he should consider their plight, because they don’t know how banks operates, they hide their little capital at home because they trade their goods from one village market day to the other.
“Traders of Kurmi market in Kano and at other markets in the country would lose a lot of money.
“If you drive from Katsina to Kano to Kaduna, how many Banks will you see, there are no banks at rural areas.” He said.
Alhaji Isyaku Ibrahim, who is a businessman said, Yoruba and Igbos in Southern Nigeria and others alike are also affected, as their dwellers in the rural areas don’t have Banks.
He said that Buhari should avoid his hardline approach to national issues, because there is difference between democracy and undemocratic environments.
Alhaji Isyaku Ibrahim said, “Due to the hardline stand on issues, I regret taking the advice of Late Umaru Dikko who said we should support him when he sought for our support when he contested for President in 2015.
“He should know that there is time for reckoning and soften his stand on issues that affects the common man in the rural areas, who are in large numbers and living far away from urban lifestyle.” He said.