The Centre for Democracy and Development, CDD, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to uphold the rule of law and align himself with the ruling the Supreme Court.
CDD also said the president has no authority whatsoever to override any court in the land, much more the Supreme Court.
Director of CDD, Indayat Hassan, who stated this in a statement on Thursday, in Abuja, said “CDD closely followed Thursday morning broadcast by President Muhammadu Buhari on the crisis caused by the implementation of the Naira redesign and cash swap policy.
Hassan noted that the high point of the broadcast was the president’s approval of the recirculation of only the old N200 bank notes, alongside the redesigned notes till April 10, 2023.
“We note, with grave concern, the President’s decision to, unfortunately, take steps contrary to the position of the Supreme Court on a case concerning the policy; this is sub-judice.
“Therefore amounts to flagrant disobedience and violation of the orders of the highest court in the land for the President to carry on as if the ruling of the Supreme Court is of no effect. CDD is convinced that this is an egregious affront to the rule of law and the principle of separation of powers. ”
“The apex court ruling on the implementation of the redesign policy is that the old notes remain legal tender until the court gives a final verdict,” she said.
She also noted that CDD is convinced that this is an egregious affront on the rule of law and the principle of separation of powers.
“In a constitutional democracy, which is anchored on the rule of law and separation of powers, the President’s action amounts to an unconstitutional power grab, which degrades our democracy,” she said.
According to her, president Buhari’s decision has dire consequences for the 2023 general elections, which are less than 10 days away. Observers from all over the world are in Nigeria to witness the elections and report on the growth of Nigerian democracy.
“This flagrant side-stepping of the Supreme Court’s decision does no good for our nation, the elections,s and the democracy we have collectively nurtured over the last 23 years. The President has no authority whatsoever to override any court in the land, talk less of the Supreme Court,” she said.
Hassan further noted that CDD, calls on President Buhari to immediately purge himself of his unconstitutional overarch and align himself with the ruling of the apex court.
She said for a government with a history of routinely disobeying court orders, this goes beyond the fine details of policy preferences.
“It is about respect for the thecourt’ss’ critical institutions, which stand as pillars of our democracy, whether their verdicts sit well with the government or not.
“With less than 120 days to the end of the president’s second and final term in office, we believe this is a clear opportunity for President Buhari to loudly show his support for the rule of law, and live up to the promise he made to the Nigerian people to be a reformed democrat,” she said