The literary luminary, Wole Soyinka, has added his voice to the discussions on the lingering effects of naira redesign policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) accusing CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, of turning Nigeria into a state of despondency.
The naira redesign policy manifested in scarcity of naira notes nearly brought Nigeria to its knees following its devastating effects on businesses and survival of Nigerians.
However, the Supreme Court had faulted the policy and legitimized the old naira notes— N200, N500 and N1000 — till the last day of the year.
Speaking on a Channels Television programme Roadmap 2023 aired on Monday, the intellectual described the policy as a conspicuous crime against humanity.
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Soyinka lamented the untold hardship unleashed on Nigerians, beyond even the electoral violence which the poorly executed policy intended to curtail.
He also faulted President Muhammadu Buhari for allowing the policy to stand to the detriment of Nigerians.
“Emefiele has committed a crime against humanity, over and beyond even any electoral foul play. He struck at the heart of the subsisting survival principles, minimal needs and entitlements of the ordinary people in the street”, Soyinka said.
“He and his boss, Buhari, because ultimately responsibility rests with him and Buhari to have allowed this to happen. But Emefiele is the expert. He’s the one who gives the advice, he’s the one who executes the policies.
“Don’t bully me. Don’t take my voice away. Don’t take my economic potential away, my economical entitlements. Don’t throw me on the mercy of sadists like Emefiele”, he added.