'Emefiele has weaponized the CBN' - FFK fires CBN Gov following extension of deadline for use of old naira notes

A collage of Femi Fani-Kayode and CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele

Femi Fani-Kayode, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) believes Godwin Emefiele, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria has weaponized the bank.

The former Minister of Aviation made this known in a statement.

This follows the directive from Emefiele to Nigerians urging them to change their old naira notes before the January 31 deadline.

Recall that announced a 10-day extension of the deadline for the use of old naira notes across Nigeria.

The CBN governor, who spoke to journalists Sunday morning, said he had the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari for the extension.

The new deadline is now 10 February instead of the former 31 January deadline, he said.

Mr Emefiele spoke in Daura, Katsina State, after a meeting with the president who is in his home state for official duties.

He said Nigerians, who are yet to change their naira notes from the old to new ones, now have an opportunity to do so.

Reacting, Fani-Kayode said the change to the new notes must be done after the elections and then done lawfully.

He said: "Emefiele has weaponsed the CBN and is an enemy of democracy.

"The policy of cancelling old notes must be totally cancelled until AFTER the election and then done lawfully."

"He wants to cause a crisis, provoke a people's uprising, derail our democracy and pave the way for an ING."

"He has NO plans to release enough new naira notes any time soon."

"He wants to STARVE the people of cash and drive them to rage out of frustration."

"This is not about politics but about stoking up protest and revolution. This is subversion and destablisation."

He must be stopped and caged!"