Buhari Makes Move To Puncture Tinubu’s Support Base

Buhari Makes  Move

OpenLife Nigeria reports that President Muhammadu Buhari has made what appears another move to puncture the support base of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Though President Buhari has been the chairman of the APC presidential campaign council, his body language, has, in several measures, indicates that he is reluctant to support Tinubu.
First was the official instruction to cabinet Ministers and head of departments and agencies not to abandon their official duties for Tinubu’s campaign.
Unconfirmed information states that President Buhari has instructed the secretary to the government of the federation, Boss Mustapha to discipline appointees who disobey the order.
This development, apart from discernable disinterest on the part of most APC stalwarts, is the reason APC public office holders have not been seen in Tinubu’s campaign trail.
However, on the few occasions Buhari appeared on the podium for Tinubu’s campaign, his remarks have been more of de marketing than promoting his prospects.
Then, came the Naira redesign policy which critical stakeholders have viewed as a step to stop vote buying which has been the hallmarks of political parties with national spread.
Tinubu who felt uncomfortable with the policy raised the alarm and called for it’s review.
He found companion in APC state governors who promptly went to court for stay of action.
As it turned out, supreme court on Wednesday, ruled in their favour.
Promptly, President Buhari, through the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, same Wednesday, asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the suit filed by three state governments challenging the naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
This move, according to an Aso Rock Villa insider who confided in OpenLife in Ekiti State Thursday morning, is to put Tinubu in check in all fronts.
“Buhari has been using tactical measures to ensure that Tinubu’s alleged stolen wealth does not count on February 25. Even though he publicly shows support, he places lots of obstacles on his way,” he disclosed.
Meanwhile, in a preliminary objection filed by the AGF through his lawyers – Mahmud Magaji and Tijanni Gazali – the federal government argued that the Supreme Court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

In court filings dated February 8, 2023, the AGF contends that “the plaintiffs have equally not shown reasonable cause of action against the defendant.”

They are asking the court to strike out the suit for lack of jurisdiction.

Citing grounds in support of the objection, they argue that the state governments’ suit challenges the federal government through its agency, the CBN, to withdraw old banknotes from the financial system and introduce new ones.

With reference to Section 251 of the Constitution, the defence lawyers argue that the suit falls within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal High Court in matters of monetary policy of an agency of the federal government.

“The claims or reliefs are not against the federation, but the federal yovernment and its Agency, the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria is distinct from the Federation or the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Plaintiffs have no grievance whatsoever against the Federation of Nigeria.

“This suit has disclosed no dispute that invokes this (Supreme) Court’s original jurisdiction as constitutionally defined,” the AGF added.

Three state governments – Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara – had sued the federal government over the naira redesign policy of the CBN.

In the suit filed on February 3, the states urged the Supreme Court to compel President Muhammadu Buhari, the CBN and commercial banks to rescind the February 10 deadline for the old N200, N500 and N1000 banknotes as Nigeria’s legal tender.

Ruling on an ex parte request by the plaintiffs, the Supreme Court, ordered the Federal Government to halt the implementation of the currency redesign policy pending the determination of the substantive suit.