New Notes Won't Fight Corruption - Wike

The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, says the new naira notes policy cannot fight corruption.

Wike said during his address at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign rally in Okrika Local Government Area (LGA), Rivers State, on Friday.

“Mr President, I know the pressure. But please, since two of us are going at the same time, this policy has nothing to [do with trying to] fight corruption at all. It has nothing to [do with trying to] fight politicians at all,” he said.

“The policy aims to suffer the people who elected us to govern over them. Our business is not to make people suffer. We all know how to fight corruption; we all know how to fight politicians. This particular one does not come in at all.”

However, Buhari has repeatedly defended the swift introduction of the new notes by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the phaseout of the old notes in a span of weeks.

Amid the hardships brought on by the policy which took effect in December 2022 with the unveiling of the new notes, the policy continues to enjoy the support of the President.

The government argues that the CBN directive is aimed at hoarders of illicit funds and corrupt politicians in the buildup to the general elections scheduled for February 25 and March 11.