Claim:
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has released N500 million in new banknotes to shore up the campaign of the Labour Party (LP) in Lagos State.
A screenshot of the claim. Credit: CBN Twitter page.
Full Text
A widely circulated claim on some newspaper websites and social media pages that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) released N500 million in new banknotes to shore up the campaign of the Labour Party (LP) in Lagos state ahead of Saturday polls.
The Nation Newspaper reported that sources last night told them that CBN [the apex bank] has released N500 million in new banknotes to shore up the campaign of the Labour Party (LP) in Lagos state ahead of Saturday’s Gubernatorial election.
ALSO READ: NRTC CHECK: False, CBN is not shutting down bank transactions ahead of Saturday’s election
According to the Nation sources, the cash bonanza is intended to give undue advantage to the LP candidate, Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, over the two other major contestants – incumbent Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the APC and Mr. Olajide Adediran of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), whose campaign and mobilization have been seriously affected by the cash squeeze caused by Emefiele’s Naira redesign policy.
Aside from Emefiele’s N500 million cash, the LP has also reportedly received $2 million cash from a famous retired billionaire general, who hails from the North, the paper reported.
The provision of dollars for LP is to match the APC candidate in the Lagos polls “dollar-for-dollars”, the source added.
ALSO READ: NRTC CHECK: Has CBN ordered N500 and N1000 old notes to remain legal tender?
It was learned that the N500 million windfall was mobilized through high-level CBN agents in Lagos. It was described as “Oga’s contribution to the takeover-Lagos-from- Tinubu’s-influence, now that he has become the president-elect and will be relocating to Abuja”.
According to the Nation, Emefiele also launches a fresh plot against President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu as well as conspires with Gen on Lagos polls.
Lagos is Nigeria’s economic nerve center and the stronghold of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
It was learned that Emefiele had worked to ensure that Tinubu did not emerge as a presidential candidate and president-elect. Also, Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai had said that the CBN governor resolved to work against Tinubu because he failed to get the APC presidential ticket.
Besides, Emefiele, who hails from Delta North, is said to be an enthusiastic promoter of the “Igbo agenda” to install “our own in Alausa come May 29”.
To perfect the plot, the cooperation of a senior military officer in a command position in Lagos is said to have been secured by Emefiele.
The commander, the sources said, is expected to provide “military muscle” to the “agenda” to take over Lagos.
He was said to have similarly played a “spoiler role” on February 25 by deliberately deploying troops to provide “cover” for the massive rigging in Ajah, and Lekki areas in favour of LP’s Obi.
The commander also allegedly provided “cover” for the massive rigging reported in Amuwo-Odofin, Ojo, Alaba, and Iba areas. For instance, troops at his behest, reportedly “detained” the Oniba of Ibaland in his palace, ostensibly to “prevent him from being able to mobilize his people to vote Tinubu”. Troops similarly invaded the palace of Elegushi in Ikateland and openly brutalized APC supporters in viral videos. Oba Saheed Elegushi is known to be a staunch Tinubu supporter.
Emefiele, whose controversial policy is widely believed to have specifically targeted Tinubu ahead of the presidential poll, is highly unfavoured to continue in office after President Muhammadu Buhari bows out on May 29.
The latest secret cash largesse to the LP candidate’s campaign is coming at a time many Nigerians groan under acute cash scarcity as daily languish in endless queues at banking halls and ATM centers across the country without being able to access their savings, despite a Supreme Court order on March 3 mandating the revalidation of the N200, N500, and N1,000 notes till December 31, 2023.
What will know
The President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele were contenders in the APC primary election last year, where Tinubu emerged winner as the party flag bearer.
Mr. Emefiele spent a multi-billionaire bid for the APC presidential ticket last year which was against the provisions of the CBN Act resulting in calling for his resignation.
Mr. Emefiele had been the talk of the country following his new naira-redesigned policy which had thrown many Nigerians into abject poverty.
The policy was set to have affected the presidential campaign that produced Tinubu as the winner as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as President-elect.
The CBN boss has disobeyed the Supreme Court judgment that the old N500 and N1000 notes remain legal tender until December 31.
LP candidate won Lagos State, the stronghold of Tinubu in the February 25th election and many have said the Governorship candidate of LP, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour will also win Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu in Saturday’s election.
Our findings
NRTC CHECK found that the report published by the Nation Newspaper and Nairaland Forum is false and meant to cause turmoil in Lagos as the citizens match to polls to elect their governor.
CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele in a statement by Isa AbdulMumin Ag. Director, Corporate Communications said didn’t make any amount of money available to the LP candidate ahead of the March 18, 2023, gubernatorial poll.
Emefiele in a press release titled: “Emefiele launches fresh plot against President-elect Tinubu” said he does not know and has never met or even spoken with Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, either in person or through a proxy.
“The attention of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been drawn to a story published in The Nation newspaper of Monday, March 13, 2023 edition, alleging that the Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele has launched a “fresh plot against the President-elect”.
“The aforementioned story went further to allege that the Governor has made a certain amount of money available to a candidate ahead of the March 18, 2023, gubernatorial poll.
“We wish to inform members of the public that this story is completely false and malicious as the CBN Governor does not know and has never met or even spoken with Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, either in person or through a proxy.”
The apex Bank reiterated that the CBN Governor does not take part in politics and therefore urged anyone with contrary information to prove the Governor wrong by providing any facts.
“As such, the Governor and his team at the CBN should be allowed to focus on their assigned job to achieve the statutory mandate of the Bank,” the statement added.
Verdict: False! Available information from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, shows that Emefiele didn’t dole out N500 million to Lagos State LP candidates for a campaign or launched a fresh plot against the President-elect, Tinubu.
CBN press release.
Conclusion
This claim by these two newspapers and Nigerians that the CBN Governor oled out N500 million to the Lagos LP candidate ahead of Saturday’s election as well as launched a fresh plot against the President-elect, Tinubu is FALSE, NRTC CHECK confirmed.
NRTC CHECK findings show that the claim was created to cause chaos for Nigerians most especially Lagosian ahead of the Saturday, March 18 Gubernatorial election.
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