EL-RUFAI, GANDUJE & I WERE PURNISHED FOR CHALLENGING FG’S NAIRA REDESIGN POLICY
Governor of Zamfara state Bello Matawalle, has blamed his opposition to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) naira redesign policy as the reason he was unable to secure a second tenure.
Matawalle stated this while speaking during an interview with DW Hausa on Thursday.
Matawalle, who contested under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in the just concluded gubernatorial election in the state, was defeated by Dauda Lawal of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The governor alleged that some elements in the Federal Government worked against his re-election bid.
Recall that Hotjist.com reported the Zamfara governor, alongside Kduna state goveror Nasir El-Rufai and the Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje had taken the Federal Government to the Supreme Court over the cash shortage caused by the CBN’s cashless policy.
Matawalle claimed that prior to the general elections, there were plots to punish himself, Ganduje and El-Rufai over their stance on the naira policy.
He said, āWhatās being said is that we went to court over the new naira notes redesign. They said myself, Ganduje and El-Rufai would be punished accordingly.ā
Meanwhile, while Uba Sani of the ruling APC and anointed candidate of El-Rufai narrowly escaped defeat, Gandujeās candidate, Nasir Gawuna was defeated by Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP.
Matawalle further alleged that all polling units were flooded with military officers with the aim to intimidate voters.
He said, āThree days to the gubernatorial election, they sent over 300 vehicles conveying soldiers into Zamfara.
āSuch a high number of soldiers! If they could send them to us to fight insecurity, it would be better. But they only sent them during elections,ā he added.