Prince Adewole Adebayo, the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has condemned the hardships that Nigerians are experiencing as a result of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) cashless policy and the ongoing scarcity of new Naira notes.
Nigerians across the country have been groaning and protesting the excruciating hardship caused by the policy and scarcity of new Naira notes, which has resulted in the closure of some businesses, including some commercial banks.
Speaking at the interactive session of the leading presidential candidates with the Compatriots in Abuja on Tuesday, Adebayo stated that Nigerians should not be treated as guinea pigs by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Nigerian government simply to prevent one or two political parties from bribery and vote buying during elections.
“We need to save our people from being used as Guinea pigs any time we want to take or stop electoral advantage,” said the SDP presidential candidate.
“I do not agree that people who are working very hard – tailors, carpenters, fishermen, anybody, should have their money confiscated by the state just because we want to stop one or two political parties from bribing people in elections if that is the policy.
“That is too draconian and that is too far and the people suffer a lot. We should try as much as possible to use other measures and try to make election year; election season not to be too traumatic for the Nigerian people.”