By Nkem Okere
A governorship frontrunner in Imo State and chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), Sir Basil Udochukwu Maduka has warned the political class and sponsors of insecurity in the South East to desist from actions that could disrupt the conduct of the 2023 general election which many believe would usher in a new Nigeria.
Sir Maduka, an international integrated Oil and Gas Services icon stated this while sharing views with news hounds on the state of the nation.
The Labour Party governorship hopeful urged all political gladiators to see the upcoming general election on February 25 and March 11 2023 as a moment of national rebirth for national growth and interest. He posited that what Nigeria needs now is a credible, free and fair election which can only be possible if politicians and operators of the system put behind personal and selfish interest but put forward national interest.
“Nobody, should tamper with the will and mandate of the people by rigging the 2023 election. The people’s votes must be allowed to count.
Speaking further, Sir Maduka, a knight of the Anglican Church revealed that since the history of electionS in Nigeria, no election has attracted so much voter interest and comments like the 2023 Presidential election. This means there must be something wrong with the previous elections which the people want to correct now. They (electorates) want to take their fate in in their hands by electing their own leader. It is no longer going to be business as usual, he said.
According to Maduka, Nigerians have reached the crucible. They are tired with the high rate of insecurity, injustice and disunity that pervade the entire country and want a credible, free and fair election to stem the tide and chart a new course for the country.
For sponsors of insecurity in the country, especially in the South East as a way of scaring the electorates from participating in the upcoming election, Maduka has a word for them. He warned the perpetrators of insecurity in the land to give peace a chance and allow citizens to perform their Civic rights to choose their own leaders as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He further warned that they risk attracting the wraths of God on themselves if they refuse to repent and turn from their evil ways.
“The level of insecurity in the South East is very high. They have created fears among the people. And this is a serious threat to the conduct of a credible, free and fair election which Nigerians now clamour for in the 2023 election.
The widely travelled politician and philanthropist called on the federal government to put the state security operatives on red alert , especially in the South East to forestall the incidents of security breaches during the election.
CBN orders banks to begin over counter payment of new notes
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Thursday ordered commercial banks to begin the payment of the new naira notes to customers over the counter.
This was contained in a statement issued and signed by the Bank’s Director, Corporate Communications, Osita Nwanisobi.
Nwanisobi said the maximum daily payout limit is N20,000 only.
“In line with this resolve, the Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has directed deposit money banks (DMBs) to commence the payment of the redesigned Naira notes over the counter, subject to a maximum daily payout limit of N20,000,” the statement added.
