Ebonyi State governor David Umahi yesterday joined other critical stakeholders in the Nigerian project to throw his support to President Muhammadu Buhari on the redesign of the naira notes.
Umahi spoke during the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign flag-off rally at Ugbodo, the headquarters of Ebonyi local government area of the state.
The chairman, South East Governors Forum who expressed concern over the economic hardship witnessed in the country following the redesign of the naira notes assured the president that there won’t be any protest against the policy in the state.
He urged the people of the country to be patient with the president, adding that in a few days to come, the suffering and hardship witnessed by the people will be resolved.
“President Buhari has worked so much for this country, he is a man with a clean heart. He is a man fighting the people that are oppressing the masses and I want to appeal to our people to be patient with him. We will support the president in the new naira redesign. In a few days Nigerians will be happy with his decision.
“We know we can’t go to the banks to withdraw money; we know the money is very scarce in Ebonyi, we know that the ATMs has all dried up and we have informed Mr. President and Mr. President is already addressing the issue.
“Buhari is a man that loves the people, he is a man that hates to see the people suffering. I urge all the gladiators to allow him to finish the good work that God called him to do in Nigeria,” he said.
On the political situation in the state, Governor Umahi accused the opposition parties of recruiting members of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN) to attack members of the APC.
“For those recruiting thugs, I am warning you for the last time. For those using official security and those sewing clothes as policemen and to give them guns to attack us, we have infiltrated your camps, we know them, we will bring them out and make sure they face the law,” he added.
He called on the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Prof Bernard Odoh to face his campaign and stop tarnishing his name adding that should Prof Odoh make good his threat to attack his convoy, he will face the law of the land.
Umahi assured the opposition parties that he will be willing to grant them access to government facilities for their campaign adding that rather than engage in writing petitions and using propaganda against the ruling party, they should concentrate on campaign rallies.