President Muhammadu Buhari has been cautioned by the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) that the collapse of peace and order could result from his continued silence and defiance of the Supreme Court's judgement regarding the use of the old naira notes.

As he concurred with the governors of Kaduna, Kogi, and Zamfara states who sued the Federal Government over the policy, ACF Secretary-General Murtala Aliyu made this public.

According to Aliyu, the Central Bank of Nigeria's (CBN) current strategy raises questions regarding the respect for the civil freedoms and rights of Nigerians with regard to their ability to spend lawfully acquired money as they like.

He added that the president should respect the Constitution by following the ruling of the supreme court because he took an oath to uphold it.

He debated that, “Whatever the CBN or anyone else says about the benefits of the policy, which evidently are many, is of little comfort as soon as the highest court in the country has deemed that it is, or, at least the manner of its implementation, breaches the law.

“Ten days is long enough time for the government to find its way towards complying with a court order which is central to the achievement of peace, order and good governance in the country. 

“President Buhari is under oath to defend the constitution of Nigeria. As his long term supporters, it will be remiss of us if we fail to warn that the much touted benefits of the Naira redesign can never justify the damage to his credentials as a democrat and a stickler for the rule of law.

“This is quite a part from the real possibility of the crisis morphing into a serious social disorder leading to the possible breakdown of law and order throughout Nigeria.”

“We do not believe nor can we advise him to pay such a heavy price on account of a policy whose immediate goals are not entirely clear to a majority of Nigerians,” Aliyu added. 

But he bemoaned the massive crowds and protracted lines that had gathered outside of bank branches and ATMs across the nation. “as people struggle to get the new cash which has remained extremely scarce, which has triggered riots and other forms of civil unrest.”