While Nigeria’s Supreme Court has suspended the deadline for stopping usage of old banknotes, the country faces yet another possible naira scandal.
Nigerian media is shocked by leaked projects of new Naira banknotes, which sources close to Peter Obi’s campaign office hinted to be very likely to be printed shortly after Obi’s win in the presidential race.
The pictures of leaked banknotes show 500 naira banknotes with the face of Chukwuemeka “Emeka” Odumegwu Ojukwu. Once Governor of the Easter Region of Nigeria and later as president of the secessionist Republic of Biafra, Emeka Ojukwu is one of the most prominent figures of the Igbo-separatist movement.
According to the source, other heroes of Biafra-movement will also appear on the renewed naira banknotes. Igbo-born presidential candidate Peter Obi recently has been making his loyalties to his ethnic group more apparent.
Thus, the implementation of the Igbo-themed naira is a wake-up call for Nigerians, who expect their President to be impartial and free of tribalism and favouritism.
Source: Cairo Agencies